Trump extends expedited citizenship to South African farmers over ‘land dispute’

United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to offer a rapid pathway to citizenship for South African farmers.

In January, Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, signed the Expropriation Act that allows the government to seize land without compensation under certain circumstances — in a bid to address decade-long inequality brewed by the apartheid era.

The government said the bill was enacted to accelerate land reform efforts, as black South Africans currently own a disproportionately small share of agricultural land compared to the white minority.

Ramaphosa had defended the bill, citing that the expropriation laws will balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners.

Trump had threatened to halt funding to South Africa over the terms of the law.

The US president accused the South African government of confiscating land and treating “certain classes of people very badly”.

In a post by Trump on Friday, he promised to fast track the citizenship for farmers affected by the law in South Africa.

“South Africa is being terrible, plus, to long time farmers in the country. They are confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT,” he wrote.

“A bad place to be right now, and we are stopping all federal funding. To go a step further, any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee the country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship.

“This process will begin immediately!”