Gloves are off: US Congressman Jonathan L Jackson has slammed President Trump's decision to freeze financial aid to South Africa.
Image: Graphic by Se-Anne Rall/IOL
A US Congressman has taken President Donald Trump to ask over his recent decision to freeze financial aid funding to South Africa.
In a statement, Congressman Jonathan L Jackson slammed Trump's move, stating that it was driven by racist information and political bias.
"President Trump's decision to halt aid to South Africa - Africa's largest economy and our most significant trading partner on the continent - is deeply misguided and rooted in falsehoods," he said.
He added that Trump's claims that land was being seized from 'certain classes' is a deliberate distortion that is even contradicted by white landowners in SA.
Condemning Trump's actions, he added that the action not only undermines the US's diplomatic and economic relationship but it also jeopardises life-saving programmes, including critical HIV/Aids assistance.
Earlier this month, Trump announced that he was cutting funding due following President Cyril Ramaphosa signing into law the Land Expropriation bill.
According to Trump, "South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY". Trump then issued an order for the prioritisation of white Afrikaner South Africans through the United States refugee programme.
Jackson explained that the Land Expropriation Act allows for the SA government to reclaim land in the public interest under specific conditions.
"[This is] a measure aimed at correcting historical injustices, not targeting 'certain classes'.
Elon Musk Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk
Image: ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Taking aim at Elon Musk, South African-turned-US-special-government-employee, Jackson said the Tesla Inc, Tesla and SpaceX owner has no credibility on the issue.
"His family benefitted from the apartheid system, and his deliberate spread of falsehoods about the treatment of white South Africans is a dangerous distraction from the real issues at hand," he said.
Breaking down US funding to SA, Jackson said the US provided $440 million in aid to SA last year, with 17% of the country's HIV/Aids programme funded through PEPFAR.
"This reckless decision disrupts life-saving healthcare initiatives, particularly in a country with one of the highest HIV rates in the world," he said.
Trump's decision also stems from SA's stance against the Israel-Palestine conflict and the country's fight against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Jackson said this was hypocritical of Trump.
"South Africa's independent stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict may not align with some US allies, but selectively punishing South Africa while ignoring other nations with similar positions in blatant hypocrisy.
"With global crises such as war, pandemics and climate change, our focus should be on building partnerships and solving real problems, not singling out nations based on misinformation and political vendettas," he said.
He urged the Trump administration and Congressional leaders to restore aid to SA, reaffirming America's commitment to diplomacy, economic cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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