US President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of USAID funding for HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa, citing false claims of land seizures from "ethnic minority Afrikaners." The accusation, which has been widely condemned by South African politicians, follows years of lobbying by a white Afrikaans rights group. While the fringe groups promoting the narrative of white oppression welcomed Trump's stance, they toned down their rhetoric in the face of a strong US response.
The move comes amidst heightened tensions between the US and South Africa, fueled by Elon Musk's recent comments and the implementation of the Expropriation Act by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump's executive order also grants priority status for US refugee programs to white Afrikaners.
In response to the US actions, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have urged the South African government to strengthen ties with BRICS partners. The EFF spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, attributed the US aggression to South Africa's support for Palestine and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, the South African Parliament's Committee on Finance has confirmed that investigations into the Steinhoff scandal are ongoing. Committee Chairperson Joe Maswanganyi stated that the committee is awaiting supplementary information from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) regarding the tracing of funds and their repayment.