Dispute over expropriations: Trump stops help for South Africa due to expropriation law

President Donald Trump’s US government freezes aid for South Africa for a South African law on state expropriation of state. Trump accused the government in Pretoria in an order “Unjust and immoral practices”. He instructed all US government authorities to end economic and development policy support for South Africa. It is also planned that people affected by the expropriations in the United States can be admitted as refugees.

South Africa has adopted a law that allows the country to expropriate the country in order to compensate for injustice during the racist apartheid era (1948-1994). At that time, land was systematically distributed by ethnic point of view, especially to white South Africans. The effects can still be felt today. The law provides for compensation payments for landowners. As a result, expropriations may only take place if previous employment negotiations have been unsuccessful.

Trump-confidant Musk is the opponent of the law

The tech billionaire and Trump confidant Elon Musk is South African. He grew up in the country during the racist apartheid era. Musk has long been against the South African government and accuses her of an attack on white landowners. South Africa’s government repeatedly rejected the accusation of arbitrary expropriations from the country or private property.

Trump had already threatened to stop the US aid. His Foreign Minister Marco Rubio had canceled his participation in the meeting of the group of important economic nations (G20) because of criticism of the host of South Africa. Trump also accused South Africa of taking an “aggressive attitude” towards the United States and its allies – for example with a view to Israel or relationships with Iran.