SOUTH Africa “will not be bullied”, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, in what was widely seen as a response to US President Donald Trump’s threats to cut aid over the country’s land expropriation law.
Ramaphosa, speaking to a packed Parliament in Cape Town, addressed the shifting global landscape and growing nationalist sentiments, vowing that South Africa would stand firm in defence of its sovereignty.
“We are witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause,” Ramaphosa said to resounding applause.
“This is the world that we, as a developing economy, must now navigate.
“But we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied.
“We will stand together as a united nation and we will speak with one voice in defence of our national interest, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy.”
The remarks came after Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, accused South Africa of “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY”, while claiming, without specifics, that the government was committing a “massive Human Rights VIOLATION”.
Trump vowed to halt all US funding to the country, a move that could affect hundreds of millions of dollars, particularly for HIV and Aids programmes.
Ramaphosa’s administration has spent the past week rebutting Trump’s assertions, emphasising that the recently passed expropriation law is meant to redistribute unused land for public benefit with legal safeguards against arbitrary seizure.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson dismissed Trump’s claims, along with criticism from South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, as “misinformation”.
Musk, who left the country in the 1980s, has frequently accused the South African government of being anti-white and suggested the new law targets the white minority.
Despite the political tensions, Ramaphosa remained resolute in his address, underscoring South Africa’s role in a changing global order.
“It is a multipolar world in which new countries are emerging to play a greater role in global affairs,” he said.
“We are seeing intensifying competition over trade, technology and influence in global institutions.
“There are global fundamental shifts underway that affect every aspect of human life.
“From the growing impact of climate change to rapid advances in artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions and violent conflicts.” – Staff Reporter