Trump's sanctions spark treason charges, political clash in South Africa
Solomon Ekanem
10 February 2025 05:04 PM
The sanctions imposed by U.S President Donald Trump have sparked heated exchanges between South African political parties, billionaire Elon Musk, and white minority groups. Trump signed an executive order cutting aid to South Africa, citing concerns over its controversial land reform law. Trump condemned the law, calling it a "shocking disregard" for citizens' rights and warning it could allow land expropriation without compensation. The South African government defended the policy as constitutional and aimed at correcting racial disparities in land ownership since apartheid's end in 1994, emphasizing that no expropriations have occurred.
South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party recently filed a treason complaint against AfriForum, a group advocating for the white Afrikaner minority. MK, a left-wing populist party led by former president Jacob Zuma, took action following AfriForum’s lobbying efforts in U.S. media and political circles against South Africa’s land reform laws. This came after the laws sparked criticism from billionaire Elon Musk and led to U.S. sanctions. MK accused AfriForum of spreading misinformation to influence Trump’s stance.
The complaint was filed at Cape Town’s central police station, where dozens of MK supporters, clad in the party’s signature green military camouflage, sang anti-apartheid freedom songs. Speaking after filing the charges, the party’s parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, stated that the sanctions against South Africa were a result of the lies and fraudulent misrepresentations by the group. “Treason has been committed, we contend, by them, because they are plotting against our government,” he added.
South Africa’s land reform laws have also fueled tensions between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and billionaire Elon Musk. In a post on X, Musk called for immediate sanctions against EFF leader Julius Malema over a controversial 2018 speech targeting white people. He labeled Malema an “international criminal” and urged global action against him. In response, the EFF dismissed Musk’s remarks as part of a broader imperialist agenda, accusing him of meddling in South Africa’s domestic affairs.
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/trumps-sanctions-spark-treason-charges-political-clash-in-south-africa/v3jsqzs
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