Trump's reading of Expropriation Act a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation - Presidency

CAPE TOWN - The Presidency says it believes US President Donald Trump's reading of the recent promulgated Expropriation Act has been a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation.
 
On Sunday night, Trump told reporters that he was cutting all aid to South Africa because government is doing "terrible things", including confiscating land.
 
Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that President Cyril Ramaphosa was confident that the misunderstanding over the country’s land reform policy could be ironed out in discussions.

"Until we find out what South Africa is doing, they are taking away land, they are confiscating land and actually they are doing things that are perhaps far worse than that," said Trump speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday night.

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But Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Magwenya, said that the G20 platform would give South Africa the opportunity to clear up the confusion around the Expropriation Act.
 
"The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument. The government does not have the legal capacity to even consider confiscating people's properties," Magwenya said.
 
The US will assume the G20 presidency from South Africa next year and Ramaphosa plans to invite Trump on a state visit before the leaders' summit at the end of the year.
 
"We are confident that these issues will be ironed out, once there are proper channels of engagement," said Magwenya.
 
With the exception of PEPFAR aid, which contributes around 17% to South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programme, the Presidency said that South Africa does not receive any other significant funding from the United States.