President Cyril Ramaphosa's 10th State of the Nation Address (Sona) addressed US President Donald Trump's criticism of South Africa's land seizure bill and his threats to cut funding. Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa's commitment to peace, justice, equality, and its resilience in navigating global challenges.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his 10th State of the Nation Address ( Sona ) at Cape Town City Hall on Thursday night, responding directly to recent attacks from US President Donald Trump and his secretary of state, Marco Rubio. Trump has been highly critical of South Africa's land seizure bill, threatening to cut funding to the country without providing any evidence.
He falsely claimed that 'South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly,' referring to the new law aimed at addressing racial disparities in land ownership. Rubio echoed his leader's sentiments, announcing his boycott of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November because he believes South Africa 'is doing very bad things.'While Ramaphosa didn't directly mention Trump during his Sona, he addressed rising global tensions and the need for South Africa to navigate a complex world. He emphasized the country's commitment to peace, justice, equality, and solidarity, highlighting its values of non-racialism, democracy, tolerance, and compassion. Ramaphosa underscored South Africa's resilience and determination, stating, '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 interests, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy.'Ramaphosa acknowledged the government's efforts to defend the country's reputation and legal processes following Trump's threat to cut US funding. He also emphasized the importance of South Africa's journey from apartheid, a 'crime against humanity,' to a democratic nation. Looking ahead, Ramaphosa outlined the government's plans and priorities for the next five years, focusing on increasing GDP growth, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening the Government of National Unity. He stressed the need for collaboration among political parties to prioritize the country's progress and create a more prosperous future for all South Africans
RAMAPHOSA SONA TRUMP LAND SEIZURE BILL UNITED STATES SOUTH AFRICA GLOBAL TENSIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
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