JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that he looked forward to engaging with U.S. President Donald Trump, after Trump said he would cut off funding for South Africa, citing land confiscations.
“We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters,” Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by the presidency.
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land.”
Ramaphosa said except for PEPFAR aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/Aids programme, there was no other significant funding provided by the United States.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Tannur Anders; Editing by Alexander Winning)