South Africa Defends Sovereignty Amid US Tensions Over Land Reform
ANC Leader Rejects US Interference in Domestic Policy
A senior leader from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has strongly defended the nation’s sovereignty amid escalating tensions with the United States regarding land reform policies and race relations.
“We are a free country, we’re a sovereign country. We’re not a province of the United States and that sovereignty will be defended,” declared ANC National Chair Gwede Mantashe during a public address on Sunday.
Controversial Land Expropriation Law Sparks Diplomatic Row
The diplomatic friction stems from South Africa’s new expropriation law, which US President Donald Trump criticized in a February executive order. The order claimed the legislation enables the government to “seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa maintains the law ensures “public access to land in an equitable and just manner.” While the legislation does permit land seizures without compensation, officials emphasize this applies only under specific circumstances.
US Offers Refugee Status to Afrikaners
Trump’s order also created a pathway for Afrikaners to seek refugee status in the US, labeling them as “victims of unjust racial discrimination.” This move has drawn sharp criticism from South African officials.
Speaking at South Africa’s Freedom Day celebrations in Mpumalanga province, Mantashe condemned citizens who urged Trump to “punish” the nation. “Now they are told to go there and be refugees, they are refusing. They must go,” he stated bluntly.
Land Ownership Disparities Fuel Tensions
The controversy has spilled onto social media platforms, with Elon Musk describing South Africa’s ownership laws as “racist” on his X platform. This comes as white South Africans, representing a minority population, continue to hold most private land and wealth decades after apartheid’s end.
Diplomatic Efforts to Ease Tensions
To address the months-long diplomatic strain, South Africa recently appointed Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to Washington. President Ramaphosa stated Jonas would advance the country’s “diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities.”
This appointment follows Washington’s expulsion of South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after he accused Trump of engaging in “dog whistle” politics regarding the land reform issue.