The land law, which was signed by Ramaphosa last month, is contentious because it gives the government scope to expropriate land from private parties. Trump announced Sunday that he would stop financial assistance while the US investigated why South Africa was "confiscating land” from some people, without saying who.

In a statement on Monday, February 3, Ramaphosa reaffirmed that South Africa remains committed to justice, equality, and the rule of law. “South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law,

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off aid over the alleged mistreatment of White farmers, denying Trump’s claim that authorities were “confiscating land.