By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated President of the United States(US) has threatened to cut-off donor funding to South Africa, accusing the southern African country of grabbing land, SkyNews reported.

But South African President Cyril Ramaphosa when responding through his Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya later on Monday, described South Africa “as constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality” adding that, the South African Government has not confiscated any land.

“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the Constitution. South Africa, like the United States of America and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners.  We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters. The US remains a key strategic political and trade partner for South Africa. With the exception of PEPFAR Aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programme, there is no other funding that is received by South Africa from the United States”, reads a statement released by the South African President through his Spokesperson.