South African President Announces Huge $50 Billion Investment for National Development

South African President Announces Huge $50 Billion Investment for National Development

Cape Town, South Africa — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a speech to the nation, responded to the threat from former U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated, "We will not tolerate threats," in a veiled response to Trump's announcement that he would halt all U.S. financial aid to South Africa over the country's new land expropriation law.

In his speech, Ramaphosa said, "We will now speak with one voice in defense of our national interests, sovereignty, and constitutional democracy." His remarks were met with applause from members of Parliament in Cape Town. He further added, "We are facing the rise of nationalism, narrow interests, and the decline of common causes. However, we will not be discouraged. We are a strong nation, and we will stand united."

Ramaphosa and his government have spent the week defending their country's reputation and legal processes, especially after Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that South Africa was confiscating land and "treating certain people very badly." Trump did not specify any individual or group in his comments. He also accused the South African government of violating human rights and claimed the media was ignoring this.

Trump's criticism was related to South Africa's new land expropriation law, which was passed last month and enables the government to seize unused land. Ramaphosa and his government have defended the law as being in the public's interest and emphasized that no land would be arbitrarily confiscated.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson said that Trump's comments and criticism from his advisor, Elon Musk—who was born in South Africa—were based on misinformation. Musk, who left South Africa in the late 1980s, has long criticized the government and claimed the law was aimed at taking land from the white minority.

Some of Trump's claims were inaccurate, and they came after he ordered a 90-day freeze on global aid, which threatened to halt U.S. assistance to South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program, the largest in the world.

Ramaphosa expressed concern over the freeze on aid, noting that South Africa was exploring ways to continue providing HIV/AIDS services.

The main focus of Ramaphosa's speech was domestic issues. He announced that his government would invest $50 billion over the next three years to improve South Africa's infrastructure, including the construction of roads, bridges, and dams, as well as the modernization of seaports and airports. He stated that this new infrastructure would "strengthen our economy."