South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly defended his government's land policy, emphasizing that it is not a matter of U.

Trump had criticized the act, which allows land expropriation without compensation, alleging that it unfairly targets "certain classes of people." He declared, "The United States won’t stand for it."

In a firm response on X (formerly Twitter), Ramaphosa clarified that the Expropriation Act is not about land confiscation but rather a legal framework to ensure fair access to land and correct historical inequalities. He reaffirmed that South Africa operates as a constitutional democracy, upholding the rule of law, justice, and equality.

Addressing concerns over U.S. funding, Ramaphosa explained that apart from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program, the country does not receive any other financial aid from the U.S.

"South Africa, like the U.S. and other nations, has long-standing expropriation laws that balance public land use with property rights," he stated.

Despite the tension, Ramaphosa expressed a willingness to engage with the Trump administration on land reform and broader bilateral relations, emphasizing South Africa’s strategic political and trade partnership with the U.S.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.