As the geographical spread of US President Donald Trump’s pronouncements increases, so do the furrowed worry lines of leaders worldwide.
Day 14 of the Trump presidency brought threats of a global trade war and news of the likely demise of USAID – the US international aid and development agency.
But the 78-year-old also spent his time complaining that “South Africa is confiscating land” and “certain classes of People” were being treated “VERY BADLY” in a post on his Truth Social website.
He threatened to cut off all future funding to the country until a full investigation is carried out – so, what is actually going on?
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Well, Mr Trump has decided to re-energise a far-right cause celebre which rests on the allegation that white people in South Africa are being marginalised – and subjected to “genocide” at the hands of the country’s black majority.
Examples of this alleged behaviour take various forms – including a bill recently signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which gives the government the power to expropriate land without financial compensation.
The law is designed to help redress the impact of decades of white minority rule in South Africa under the apartheid regime.
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Three decades after Nelson Mandela led the country into the democratic era, white farmers still own the vast majority of farmland nationwide.
White landowners possess three-quarters of South Africa’s freehold farmland, compared with 4% for black landowners. Black people make up about 80% of South Africa’s total population while about 8% are white.
The new legislation limits land expropriation to circumstances where it is “just and equitable and in the public interest” to do so – for example, situations where the property is not being used – or attempts to reach a financial settlement with the owner have failed.
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In response to the president’s missive, Mr Ramaphosa mounted the following response: “The South African government has not confiscated any land.
“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner.”
The second part of the genocide claim is fuelled by the number of violent attacks on landowners in rural areas.
Right-wing groups in South Africa say white farmers are targeted because of their race while the authorities do little – or nothing – to protect them.
However, analysts say farm attacks reflect the country’s desperately high rates of violent crime.
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One thing is certain – Mr Trump’s comments on South Africa land ownership reflect the influence that South Africa-born billionaire Elon Musk has on the US president.
Responding on X to Ramaphosa’s statement, Mr Musk said South Africa had “openly racist ownership laws,” suggesting white people are the victims.
