Washington, February 8, 2025 – The Europe Today: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to cut financial assistance to South Africa, citing its genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel and concerns over the country’s land policies, the White House announced on Friday.
“As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country,” the White House stated in a summary of the order.
The US has expressed strong opposition to the ICJ case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide over its military actions in Gaza. The White House considers this move as evidence of South Africa taking positions against Washington and its allies.
Additionally, President Trump criticized South Africa’s land reform policies, which he claims involve land confiscation and discrimination against certain groups. The administration announced plans to resettle South African farmers and their families in the US through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, prioritizing humanitarian relief for Afrikaners, who are mainly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers.
South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, a close associate of Trump, has also condemned South Africa’s land policies, arguing that white South Africans are victims of “racist ownership laws.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the policy, asserting that no land has been confiscated and that the reforms aim to correct historical racial disparities in land ownership. He has strongly rejected US pressure, stating that South Africa “will not be bullied.”
President Trump had previously threatened to cut financial aid to South Africa early in his term. Further escalating tensions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would skip upcoming G20 talks in South Africa, accusing the host nation of maintaining an “anti-American” stance.
Land ownership remains a highly contentious issue in South Africa due to its colonial and apartheid history. According to the latest land audit, white landowners still control 75 percent of the country’s freehold farmland, while Black South Africans, who make up 80 percent of the population, own only 4 percent.
