Trump wants a study on SA farm killings
USA President Donald Trump has asked his government to investigate what he believes to be the large scale killings of white people and seizure of farms.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been requested to "closely study" land expropriation without compensation in South Africa.
Trump confirmed the investigation on Twitter on Thursday morning, reacting to a report by international broadcaster Fox News.
The 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' show claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa had started to expropriate land without compensation from white South Africans because "they are the wrong skin colour".
I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018
The US State Department responded to Carlson's show saying they are investigating the matter.
#LandExpropriation #DonaldTrump The US State Department responded to Carlson's show saying they are investigating the matter. pic.twitter.com/h17J1lsYM8
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 23, 2018
South Africans reacted to the news on social media - mostly slamming Trump for perpetuating fake news.
Former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela alluded that America's Head of State is reckless, as he didn't investigate the veracity of the Fox News' report.
What happened to the principle of ask first, understand then act responsibly as a leader? @POTUS https://t.co/4k45LXx5Jc
— Prof Thuli Madonsela (@ThuliMadonsela3) August 23, 2018
Watch the show below:
Fox News on SA land debate! https://t.co/MVcSVzsZBr
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) August 23, 2018