President Trump Sent Officials to Investigate Land Expropriation in South Africa
There was consensus that there has been considerable misinformation about land expropriation without compensation.
President Donald Trump sent a number of his officials to formally investigate the process of land expropriation without compensation in South Africa in addition to rampant claims of a 'white genocide'.
Land expropriation without compensation is part of a land reform process in South Africa that seeks to address the injustices of the country's past that resulted in land being stolen from Black people. It has caused, and understandably so, much debate among South Africans but more so White South African land owners who fear a similar outcome to that of Zimbabwe's land reform.
In addition, misinformation and false narratives around the targeting of White farmers in a so-called 'white genocide' have been peddled abroad by racist lobby groups such as AfriForum.
The visit by American officials comes after Trump asked his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to monitor land reform in South Africa back in 2018.
The American delegation, which included including Deputy Secretary of State, John Sullivan, and the US Deputy Ambassador to South Africa, Jessye Lapenn, met with key stakeholders such as AgriSA, Grain SA and several officials from the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Their discussions were aimed at ensuring that the land reform process is transparent and does not adversely affect South Africa's economy. The often exaggerated murder rate of White farmers was discussed along with the dangerous possibility of illegal land grabs.
Speaking in a press briefing following the meeting, Sullivan said:
"Land reform has received significant attention – but there is a lot of misinformation in the US. I don't think it has translated well across the ocean and been covered with the depth and perspective that is necessary."
