South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded Thursday to U.S. criticism, declaring that his country will not be intimidated.
“We are facing nationalism and protectionism globally, but we will not be daunted,” Ramaphosa said in a national address.
The remarks followed accusations from President Donald Trump, who claimed South Africa was “confiscating” land through a new expropriation law. The law allows the government to seize land with “nil compensation” under certain conditions, a move the South African government has denied was confiscation.
The land issue is sensitive, with most farmland still owned by white people decades after apartheid. Ramaphosa’s government is under pressure to implement land reforms.
Elon Musk, who advises Trump, also criticized South Africa’s policies after delays in licensing his Starlink service, reportedly due to equity requirements for companies to support disadvantaged groups.
Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the South African government of an “anti-American” stance and announced he would skip the G20 talks in South Africa.
Ramaphosa also expressed concern over the suspension of U.S. aid, which supports 17 percent of South Africa’s AIDS treatment programs, assuring the country that alternative solutions are being explored.