The African National Congress (ANC) has strongly condemned what it calls US interference in South Africa’s internal affairs, accusing Washington of undermining the country’s sovereignty.

In a statement issued on February 9, the ANC hit back at US President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt future US aid to South Africa over the country’s land expropriation policies.

The controversy escalated after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act, which allows the government to take land without compensation under specific conditions.

The law is intended to address historical land inequalities but has drawn criticism both locally and internationally.

Trump responded by suspending US aid to South Africa and signing an executive order granting refugee status to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners.

He cited concerns about alleged "rights violations" against white farmers, including violent attacks and the land expropriation policy, which critics see as discriminatory.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika on February 10, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri voiced the party’s strong opposition to foreign involvement in domestic policies.

“We are a sovereign nation, and we cannot allow any external force to dictate the terms of our domestic policies,” Bhengu said.

“The United States’ actions reflect a blatant disregard for South Africa’s sovereignty. It is an insult to our democratic processes, which we have fought long and hard to build.”

Trump’s executive order has triggered strong reactions at home and abroad. The decision to cut aid over land expropriation has reignited debate on how South Africa should handle land reform.

Government officials insist land reform is essential to correcting apartheid-era injustices, while critics, including AfriForum, warn it could harm the economy and lead to instability.

Bhengu-Motsiri also criticised AfriForum, a civil rights group that has lobbied for US intervention in South Africa’s land policies.

She described the organisation as a “counter-revolutionary” force trying to incite racial tensions and derail progress.

“AfriForum’s actions are not only misguided but dangerous,” she said.

“By aligning themselves with foreign powers and pushing false narratives about land reform, they are betraying the values of our constitutional democracy. They are deliberately creating racial divisions and destabilising the country.”

The land reform issue has sparked intense political and social debate.

While the government argues expropriation without compensation is necessary to redress historical injustices, opposition groups, property rights advocates, and international stakeholders have raised concerns about economic risks.

In response to the US sanctions, Ramaphosa reaffirmed his government’s commitment to land reform, saying South Africa would not be pressured into changing its policies.

“We will continue to deepen reforms and ensure that our citizens, particularly those who were historically disadvantaged, benefit from these changes,” he said.

Bhengu-Motsiri stressed the need for national unity amid foreign pressure.

“We call on all South Africans, regardless of race, to stand together in defense of our democracy,” she said.

“It is critical that we do not allow ourselves to be divided by forces that seek to weaken our constitutional democracy and undermine our sovereignty.”

IOL politics