Trump to cut South Africa funding over land law

Sub : IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

U.S. President Donald Trump made the statement accusing South Africa of violating human rights through its new land expropriation law. Trump emphasized that South Africa is “confiscating land” and mistreating certain groups of people.
Trump announced that the U.S. would cut all future funding to South Africa and conduct an investigation into the situation, calling it a “massive human rights violation.”

South Africa’s Response:

In response, the South African government clarified that it had not “confiscated” any land under the new law.
The law seeks to redress the impact of apartheid, where land was forcibly taken from South Africa’s Black majority. The policy aims to return land to the Black population who were historically marginalized under the apartheid system.
Under apartheid, which ended in 1994, the South African government systematically seized land from the Black majority and forced them into racially segregated areas.
The land expropriation law is part of a broader effort to address the historical injustices that have led to a highly unequal distribution of land between the White and Black populations.

Apartheid in South Africa:

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced by the government of South Africa from 1948 to 1994.
Under apartheid, the white minority population held power and privileges, while the Black majority, along with other non-white groups (such as Coloureds and Indians), faced severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms.

Key aspects of apartheid:

Racial Classification: The government classified people into racial groups, primarily White, Black, Coloured, and Indian, and enforced strict segregation based on these categories.
Forced Segregation: The apartheid regime separated people in almost every aspect of life, including where they could live, work, and go to school. Black South Africans were often forced to live in designated areas called “townships,” far from urban centers.
Pass Laws: These laws controlled the movement of Black South Africans, requiring them to carry passbooks to travel in certain areas. This severely limited their freedom of movement and access to resources.
Disenfranchisement: Non-white South Africans were denied the right to vote, making it impossible for them to participate in the political process.
Education and Employment Restrictions: Apartheid laws ensured that non-white people had access to inferior education and job opportunities, while many professions were reserved for whites.