Land Reform: South Africa hits Trump on a racist tweet

The South African government is lashing out at President Donald Trump after he tweeted that his administration would be looking into farm seizures and the “large scale killing of farmers” in South Africa.

The US president wrote: “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”

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

South Africa says Trump’s tweet was based on “false information” and reflected a “narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past.”

In respond to the US president’s tweet, the south Africa government wrote: “South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. #landexpropriation @realDonaldTrump @PresidencyZA”

South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. #landexpropriation @realDonaldTrump @PresidencyZA

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 23, 2018

South Africa is grappling with a national racial debate on land reform, a legal process aimed at correcting the legacy of decades of white minority rule that has deprived blacks of their land.

The South African government says it will meet with the U.S. Embassy on Thursday as it seeks to clarify Trump’s remarks.