South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed President Donald Trump’s decision to cut future funding for the country, stating that South Africa only receives aid through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
In a post on X, Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa has not confiscated any land. Instead, the country has adopted the Expropriation Act, which is a constitutionally mandated legal process designed to ensure equitable public access to land.
He reiterated that South Africa is a sovereign state grounded in the rule of law. “South Africa is a constitutional democracy deeply rooted in justice and equality. The government has not confiscated any land. The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation measure, but a legal process mandated by our constitution that facilitates just and equitable access to land.”
Ramaphosa noted that South Africa has expropriation laws similar to those in the United States, balancing the need for public land use with the protection of property owners’ rights. He expressed hope for constructive engagement with the Trump administration regarding land reform and other bilateral interests, aiming for a mutual understanding of these issues.

The President stated, “The U.S. remains a key strategic political and trade partner for South Africa. Other than PEPFAR aid, which accounts for 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program, we do not receive other funding from the United States.”
Trump announced on Monday that he would terminate future funding to South Africa, citing the country’s land confiscation policies as a violation of human rights. Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of Trump, accused President Ramaphosa of perpetuating openly racist land ownership laws.
The land reform law recently enacted by Ramaphosa details how the state may expropriate land and under what circumstances. It replaced the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975, which required the state to compensate landowners under the “willing seller, willing buyer” principle.
According to BBC News, the new law allows for expropriation without compensation in cases deemed “just and equitable and in the public interest.” This includes situations where a property is not utilized, where there is no intent to develop it, or if it poses a risk to the public.
The president’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated that under the new law, the state “may not expropriate property arbitrarily or for purposes other than those in the public interest.” He added, “Expropriation may not occur unless the relevant authority has attempted, without success, to reach an agreement with the property owner.”