President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of the country’s land reform policy and its ongoing case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In 2023, the U.S. had allocated nearly $440 million in aid to South Africa.
The White House also announced plans to resettle white South African farmers and their families as refugees in the United States.
The order prioritizes humanitarian relief through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, specifically for Afrikaners—white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers.
The South African foreign ministry condemned the move, stating, “The executive order lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.”
Trump’s executive action follows allegations of land confiscation by South Africa, which he claims is mistreating certain groups.
He has suggested that white South Africans are being unfairly targeted, despite the government’s stance that no land has been confiscated. President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the land reform policy, which aims to address racial imbalances in land ownership.
Ramaphosa also responded to Washington’s criticism of the genocide case against Israel, calling it an example of South Africa being bullied by the U.S.
The case involves allegations that Israel’s military actions in Gaza have amounted to genocide, a claim Israel denies.
Despite these tensions, right-wing groups like AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement expressed support for Trump’s stance on Afrikaners but voiced regret over the withdrawal of aid.
Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, said, “We are indigenous to this country and we are going nowhere,” rejecting the notion of becoming refugees in the U.S.
