US State Dept stands by Trump's views on land
The US State Department says they support President Donald Trump's views on land expropriation in South Africa.
"I should mention that the expropriation of land without compensation would risk sending South Africa down the wrong path. We continue to encourage a peaceful and transparent public debate about what we consider to be a very important issue and South Africans do as well," Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert said.
Nauert has addressed the media on the issue, after Trump tweeted to say that he's asked his Secretary of State to closely study land and farm seizures and what he's called the large-scale killing of farmers.
I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018
It's drawn outrage from people across the country as well as our government.
The SA government says land reforms will be carried out in a careful and inclusive manner that will not divide the nation.
South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. #landexpropriation @realDonaldTrump @PresidencyZA
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 23, 2018
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International Relations says it met with US embassy officials and warned them over the alarmist, false and misinformed statements on the issue.
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says she'll be talking to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo directly about it. Meanwhile, Nauert was also asked whether America likens land reform to the land grabs in Zimbabwe.
"The situation between South Africa and Zimbabwe are quite different. It may be easy for some to try and draw a comparison but there are very big differences. In Zimbabwe, we saw the government squash civil society, shut down the media from doing their jobs ad destroying an independent judiciary. And we have not seen that happen in South Africa so I think they are different situations all together," she said.