AfriForum has urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on senior ANC leaders rather than punish all South Africans over the country’s land expropriation policies.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he would cut off all U.S. funding to South Africa, claiming the government was “confiscating” land and violating human rights. He said financial aid would be suspended until a full investigation was completed.
AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel responded by stating his organization would formally ask the U.S. to target individual ANC leaders instead of implementing broad economic measures. “Ordinary South Africans are already suffering under a hostile government. We do not want further punishment,” he said.
The Expropriation Bill, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on January 23, sets out the legal framework for expropriating land in the public interest. The government maintains that the law aligns with the Constitution and requires negotiations with property owners before expropriation.
The bill has faced strong opposition. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and AfriForum reject it outright, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) argue it does not go far enough in addressing land restitution. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo accused Trump of falling for “AfriForum and DA propaganda” and called his threats an attack on South Africa’s sovereignty.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola welcomed Trump’s call for an investigation, saying it provided an opportunity for the U.S. to better understand South Africa’s constitutional democracy. He added that expropriation laws exist worldwide and are not unique to the country.
