- – Trump Offers Refuge to White Farmers
U.S. President, Donald Trump, has reignited global debates over race, land rights, and international diplomacy, by signing an executive order on February 7, 2025, halting all foreign aid to South Africa. The decision comes in response to South Africa’s controversial new land reform law, which Trump claims discriminates against the country’s white minority, particularly Afrikaner farmers. The executive order also outlines plans to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaners in the United States as refugees, a proposal that has drawn both praise and sharp criticism.
The land reform law, signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025, allows the government to expropriate land without compensation in specific cases—such as when the land is underutilized or when redistribution is deemed in the public interest. South Africa’s government has framed the law as a necessary step to address the lingering economic disparities of apartheid, which ended in 1994. Under apartheid, Black South Africans were systematically dispossessed of land, forced into crowded townships and rural reserves. Today, despite making up 80% of the population, Black South Africans own just 4% of the country’s farmland, while white South Africans, who constitute about 8% of the population, own roughly 70%, according to a 2017 land audit.
Trump’s executive order accuses South Africa of “government-sponsored race-based discrimination” and claims the law enables the seizure of “ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.” The White House also cited alleged violent attacks on white farmers, describing them as a human rights violation. However, South African officials and independent analysts have disputed these claims. South Africa’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling the order a “campaign of misinformation and propaganda” that fails to acknowledge the country’s “profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.” They emphasized that no land has yet been expropriated under the new law and that the legislation includes checks to ensure fair compensation in most cases.
See Also: South African Pastor Found Guilty Of Treason, Racist Plot
The U.S. aid freeze is significant. In 2023, the United States allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa, with over $270 million channelled through the Agency for International Development (USAID). A substantial portion of this funding—approximately 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS response—was directed toward health programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides lifesaving medication to millions. Experts warn the sudden halt could devastate public health initiatives, with potential ripple effects on South Africa’s already strained healthcare system.
Beyond the aid freeze, Trump’s order has stirred controversy with its refugee resettlement provision. The plan prioritizes Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch and French settlers—who Trump claims are fleeing “racially discriminatory property confiscation.” Yet, Afrikaner advocacy groups like AfriForum and Solidarity have largely declined the offer. While expressing appreciation for Trump’s recognition of their concerns, they argue that leaving South Africa would mean abandoning their cultural identity. “If Afrikaners became refugees in the U.S., their cultural identity would be lost,” said Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum. Solidarity’s chairperson, Flip Buys, added, “We believe ordinary South Africans should not bear the cost of diplomatic disputes.”
Critics of the executive order have pointed out the irony of offering refugee status to a group that remains among South Africa’s most economically privileged. A 2021 study by the South Africa Human Rights Commission found that only 1% of white South Africans live in poverty, compared to 64% of Black South Africans. South Africa’s foreign ministry highlighted this disparity, noting that the U.S. is deporting and denying asylum to vulnerable groups from other regions despite their “real hardship.”
The controversy has also drawn attention to the broader geopolitical context. South Africa’s recent stance at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, has further strained its relationship with the U.S. Trump’s order explicitly references South Africa’s “aggressive stance” against U.S. allies, including its warming ties with Iran. This has led some analysts to view the aid freeze as part of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which has already seen a broader pause in U.S. overseas assistance.
Elon Musk, a close Trump ally and head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, has amplified the issue. Born in South Africa, Musk has criticized the country’s land reform policies and affirmative action laws, calling them “openly racist.” His comments have resonated with far-right groups in the U.S., where narratives of “white genocide” in South Africa have gained traction, despite being widely debunked. Experts note that while violence against farmers is a concern—49 farmers were killed in 2023—these incidents are part of South Africa’s broader crime epidemic, with over 27,000 homicides recorded that year.
South Africa’s land reform remains a deeply divisive issue. Proponents argue it is a long-overdue correction of historical injustices, while opponents, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s largest opposition party, warn it could undermine property rights and deter foreign investment. The DA, part of the ANC-led coalition government, has criticized the law but denies it allows arbitrary land seizures. “The Act requires fair compensation for legitimate expropriations,” the party stated.
With this seeming stand-off between the U.S.-South Africa, the economic implications are becoming clearer. South Africa’s trade with the U.S., valued at $15 billion annually, could be at risk. A quarter of its exports benefit from preferential tariffs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which represents 1% of South Africa’s GDP. Analysts warn that Trump’s actions could extend beyond aid, potentially threatening AGOA’s renewal or leading to tariffs if relations deteriorate further.
For now, South Africa remains defiant. President Ramaphosa has reiterated that the land reform law is a “constitutionally mandated legal process” aimed at ensuring equitable access to land. “We will not be bullied,” he declared, signaling that the country is prepared to weather the storm. Meanwhile, the international community watches closely, as the clash between historical redress and global power politics takes center stage.