US plans to resettle "persecuted South African farmers"

The United States is ready to resettle "persecuted" South African farmers, a State Department spokeswoman said on Saturday, after Washington froze aid to the country over a law that President Donald Trump says allows land to be taken away from white farmers.

„Persecuted South African farmers and other innocent victims targeted solely because of their race who choose to move to America will be welcomed,

„The United States will also protect the rights and interests of the descendants of those who remain behind and are at risk of expropriation without compensation and other intolerable abuses“, – added Ms. Bruce.

Just before this statement, on Friday, Mr Trump issued an order freezing US aid to South Africa.

In the executive order, Mr Trump, who is advised by South African-born Elon Musk, said the law would "allow the South African government to confiscate the agricultural assets of the ethnic Afrikaner minority without compensation".

Johannesburg denies this interpretation, calling it „misinformation“.

The law, signed into law last month by CAR President Cyril Ramaphosa, provides that in certain circumstances the government can offer „zero compensation“ for property it decides to confiscate in the public interest.

Land ownership is a contentious issue in South Africa, as three decades after the end of apartheid, much of the agricultural land is still owned by whites and the government is under pressure to implement reforms.

Trump ally Musk has accused Ramaphosa's government of enacting „openly racist property laws“.

Washington's statement comes at a time when the Trump administration is carrying out an unprecedented crackdown on undocumented migrants, deploying troops on the border with Mexico, carrying out high-profile immigration raids and arrests, and deporting migrants by military plane.