What are the implications of US funding cuts on South Africa?

Stephen Grootes speaks to Lumkile Mondi, Senior Lecturer at Wits University's School of Economics and Business Science, about the implications of US funding cuts on South Africa.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below. 

President Donald Trump says the U.S.A will launch a full investigation into alleged human rights violations in South Africa, while also cutting all funding to the country until such an investigation is complete.

His comments have had an immediate impact on the rand, which climbed above the R19 mark against the U.S dollar.

Trump's comments follow the South African government recently signing into law the Land Expropriation Bill, which the American president referred to as 'land confiscation'.

Speaking to Lumkile Mondi, senior lecturer at Wits University's school of economics and business science says this is going to hurt the South African economy.

"This approach of using tariffs, it's going to lead to huge increases in domestic prices...and hurt the very same community that's trying to help."

- Lumkile Mondi, senior lecturer - Wits University's school of economics and business science

"You're using tariffs, thinking that you want to benefit America, at the expense of another, when in fact it hurts the local people."

- Lumkile Mondi, senior lecturer - Wits University's school of economics and business science

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the interview.