SA political parties weigh in on Trump's funding threats
Trump announced on Sunday that his decision has been based on the ill-treatment of certain groups of people whom he didn’t name and for allegedly confiscating land.
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on January 31, 2025. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP
CAPE TOWN - Political parties across the divide have on Monday been weighing in on US President Donald Trump's decision to pull aid to South Africa, with most condemning his response to the Expropriation Act as misinformed.
Trump announced on Sunday that his decision has been based on the ill-treatment of certain groups of people whom he didn’t name and for allegedly confiscating land.
The Good Party's Brett Herron said organisations that appeal to US lawmakers to punish South Africa is an anti-democratic act, which is tantamount to economic treason.
"We condemn the disinformation efforts by AfriForum, Solidarity and their political party spearheads the Freedom Front Plus and the Democratic Alliance. Their collective campaign has backfired and will hurt not only their members but the entire country."
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Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance's deputy president Kenny Kunene said with Trump being a decisive leader, his latest move is a wake-up call for South Africa to be self-sustainable and not to depend on foreign aid.
"The leadership that this country has produced over the years, has been a leadership that has no idea how to make South Africa self-sustainable and not to depend on other countries. Trump is behaving like a bully that takes care of you. They will bully you when you do what they don’t like. So I’m not surprised."
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said he's concerned by Trump's remarks which he's termed - reckless.
But he too has placed the blame at the door of government.
READ: Expropriation Act: ANC slams AfriForum for misinformation & fearmongering
"This challenge is of our own making as a country with a complex history of oppression, followed by 30 years of misgovernance by the ANC that has deepened inequality. The political change that must address these challenges must come from within our country from South Africans who determine their own future. Given the role the US president plays in global affairs, it must be incumbent upon President Trump to receive more balanced counsel on matters pertaining to SA."