WASHINGTON/JOHANNESBURG, March 7 – South Africa has pushed back against what it describes as “megaphone diplomacy” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington is halting all federal funding to the country. The move, confirmed on Friday, comes amid rising tensions over South Africa’s foreign policy stance and land reforms.
Trump’s decision follows an executive order signed last month to terminate U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s land expropriation policies and its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel, a key American ally. The U.S. president also revealed plans to offer South African farmers and their families a fast-tracked path to U.S. citizenship, stating in a Truth Social post that the process would begin “immediately.”
Responding to the announcement, South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the notion of engaging in a public war of words, insisting that Pretoria remains committed to a relationship with Washington based on mutual respect and sovereignty. “We are not going to partake in counterproductive megaphone diplomacy,” Magwenya said, emphasizing South Africa’s intention to maintain strong political, economic, and diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Land ownership remains a deeply contentious issue in South Africa, where white landowners still control nearly 75% of freehold farmland, compared to just 4% owned by Black South Africans, despite the latter making up about 80% of the population, according to a 2017 land audit. Seeking to address these disparities, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law in January permitting land expropriation without compensation in certain cases deemed to be in the public interest.
The U.S. has been a key development partner for South Africa, providing an estimated $323.4 million in foreign assistance in 2024.
