AfriForum blames Ramaphosa, ANC leaders for Trump cutting off US funding to SA

JOHANNESBURG - AfriForum is placing the blame on President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior African National Congress (ANC) leaders for United States (US) President Donald Trump's decision to cut off funds to South Africa.  

This comes after Trump expressed his disapproval of South Africa's land reform policy, claiming that the country is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people badly.  

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AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said they had previously written to Ramaphosa, urging him not to sign the Expropriation Act.

“We tried to avert this. We also stated in our letter to the president that this will harm international relations, it will harm investments in the country, and we asked that he refer the Expropriation Act back to Parliament. But our proposal was treated with disdain because, to this day, we have not received any response.”  

BELA ACT

Kriel added that the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act is detrimental to the Afrikaner community, which doesn't have judicial areas where their language and culture can thrive.  

“Afrikaans schools play a prominent role in our cultural existence and therefore, an attack on Afrikaans schools is an attack on our existence.”  

In response to Trump's decision, Ramaphosa stated that South Africa is a constitutional democracy that respects the rule of law, justice, and equality.  

He emphasised that the government has not confiscated any land and that the Expropriation Act aims to ensure equitable public access to land.