President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected claims made by Donald Trump that South Africa is confiscating land.
Ramaphosa also stated that he is ready to explain his government’s land reform policy to his US counterpart.
Trump’s comments appeared to refer to a land expropriation act signed by Ramaphosa last month, which allows the government to, in certain circumstances, offer no compensation for property it seizes in the public interest.
Ramaphosa, however, clarified in a statement following Trump’s assertions that the South African government has not confiscated any land.
The government added that the bill does not allow authorities to expropriate property arbitrarily and must first seek to reach agreement with the owner.
According to Ramaphosa, “The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, it is a “constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution”.
