Civil organisations have slammed US President over his comments on SA's Land Expropriation Act.
Image: Julia Nikhinson / AFP
Several South African Civil Society organisations have criticised US President Donald Trump for peddling 'dangerous lies' about the country's Land Expropriation Bill.
On Monday, Trump announced that he would cut funding to SA over the bill, alleging that the bill was "treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY'.
In a joint statement, the organisations, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Helen Suzman Foundation and The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, said SA's government and executive are frequently deserving of fierce criticism but Trump's assertions were dangerous.
"The idea that South Africa is 'confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly' is demonstrably untrue and would be absurd were this lie not now being propounded at the very highest levels of US government," the organisations said.
They added that in his threat, Trump failed to state who the 'certain classes' he was referring to.
"Another bleak irony of Trump’s threat is that the most significant funding currently contributed by the US to SA is directed towards healthcare-related initiatives. Those most directly impacted by any US funding cut are likely to be already among the most desperate, destitute South Africans.
"Trump’s actions will only make them more so and by potentially fueling tensions between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in South Africa may inadvertently threaten the interests of those 'certain classes' for whom Trump ostensibly seeks to act," the group said.
Simply put and according to international law firm, Fasken, "Property may be expropriated only in terms of a law of general application, for a public purpose, or in the public interest, and subject to compensation, the amount of which and the time and manner of payment which have been either agreed to by those affected or decided or approved by a court."
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson further moved to reassure investors that there will be no land grabs in SA.
Clarifying misconceptions, the minister said no South African will have their land confiscated.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the bill into law earlier this month.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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