Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Trump cuts financial aid to South Africa, approves resettling of 2.7 million white farmers to U.S.

The U.S. president stressed South Africa’s perceived hostility towards the U.S. and its allies, primarily, Israel.

• February 8, 2025
Trump/ South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa
Trump and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa

United States of America President Donald Trump on Friday issued an executive order halting financial aid to South Africa over concerns that its recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 (Act) for the government to seize land without compensation will hurt a minority of about 2.7 million white farmers in the African nation with a population of about 60 million persons.

Mr Trump said that his administration would support the relocation and resettlement of “Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.”

The White farmers in South Africa are believed to wield significant economic influence, owning swathes of land that even the Black locals —-after over 30 years of the end of apartheid—- cannot afford.

The majority Blacks in the African country only own a tiny fraction of land in the African nation as opposed to the acres of lands owned by the minority Whites.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in January signed the Expropriation Bill into law to provide government the right to seize lands without compensation under certain conditions where it is “just and equitable and in the public interest.”

The U.S. president further highlighted South Africa’s perceived hostility towards the U.S. and its allies, primarily, Israel, stressing the African nation filed a suit at the International Court of Justice in the Hague alleging genocide against Hamas.

“South Africa has taken aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies, including accusing Israel, not Hamas, of genocide in the International Court of Justice, and reinvigorating its relations with Iran to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements,” Mr Trump said in the order.

Mr Trump has continued to sign a flurry of executive orders since he was inaugurated on January 20 which includes cancelling foreign aids, revoking birthright citizenship and his predecessor’s security clearance.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Music console

Hot news Home top

Nigeria, Kenya lose $286 million music revenue annually to copyright gaps: U.S.

She urged policymakers to ratify and fully implement the WIPO Copyright Treaty. 

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

Economy

Apapa customs record N28 billion in single-day revenue

He attributed the latest milestone to sustained reforms and improved compliance. 

Governor Dikko Radda

Agriculture

Katsina govt begins distribution of 90,000 bags of grains to vulnerable citizens

Mr Radda said food palliatives alone could not provide a lasting solution to food insecurity. 

UNICEF and Katsina State govt logos

Health

UNICEF, Katsina mobilise faith leaders to boost vaccination, child health

He said religious leaders were strategically positioned to build trust and encourage families to embrace vaccination.

Humberto Bettencourt

Sport

Cape Verde appoint Humberto Bettencourt as new head coach

Bettencourt’s new role comes after six years working alongside Bubista.