Joseph Isangura
The diplomatic rift between the United States and South Africa has deepened as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he will not attend the upcoming G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg.
The summit, scheduled for February 20-21, comes at a time when relations between the two countries are strained following controversial remarks from President Donald Trump.
Trump recently accused South Africa of “confiscating land” and claimed that “certain classes of people” were being mistreated, vowing to halt U.S. funding to the country until the matter was investigated. His statements, made without presenting any evidence, have sparked a wave of criticism and diplomatic concerns.
In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly rejected Trump’s claims, insisting that no land had been unlawfully seized. He explained that the country’s land reform efforts aim to correct historical injustices stemming from the colonial and apartheid eras, when Black South Africans were dispossessed of land on a massive scale.
“The objective is to ensure fair and equitable access to land,” Ramaphosa said, emphasizing that South Africa’s approach is guided by the rule of law. According to a 2017 land audit, white landowners still control around 75% of the country’s farmland, despite making up less than 10% of the population. Black South Africans, who constitute about 80% of the population, own just 4%.
Last month, Ramaphosa signed a law allowing the state to expropriate land in the public interest, a move aimed at addressing economic disparities. The policy has been met with both support and criticism, sparking debate domestically and internationally.
Rubio, a close ally of Trump, took to social media to criticize South Africa’s policies, arguing that the country is using the G20 platform to promote ideological agendas rather than focus on economic cooperation.
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“South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, and sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change,” Rubio wrote on X (formerly Twitter), without providing further details.
His decision to skip the Johannesburg summit reflects the escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria at a time when South Africa holds the G20 presidency until November 2025.
Land ownership has long been one of South Africa’s most contentious issues. During apartheid, Black South Africans were systematically stripped of land rights, leading to vast economic inequalities that persist today. Efforts to redistribute land have faced resistance from some sectors, both within the country and internationally.
Trump’s remarks have reignited the debate, with speculation that his stance may be influenced by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has previously accused the South African government of enforcing “openly racist ownership laws” that he claims disadvantage white landowners.
