Trump said this process will begin immediately.

Asked for comment about Trump's remarks, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said South Africa was “not going to partake in a counterproductive megaphone diplomacy”.

Magwenya said the country remained committed to building a mutually beneficial bilateral trade, political and diplomatic relationship with the US and this relationship must be based on mutual respect and respect for South Africa's independence and sovereignty.

White landowners still own three-quarters of freehold farmland. This contrasts with 4% owned by blacks, according to the latest 2017 land audit, who make up 80% of the population, compared with about 8% for whites.

Partly in an effort to redress this imbalance, Ramaphosa signed a law in January allowing the state to expropriate land “in the public interest”, in some cases without compensating the owner.

US foreign assistance commitments to South Africa came in at $323.4m (R5.9bn) in 2024, according to US government data.