Donald Trump and the tortured history of South Africa’s land - Financial Times

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent commentary on South Africa's land expropriation debate has thrust a historically contentious domestic policy issue into the international spotlight, creating fresh uncertainty for European investors navigating an already complex operating environment in Africa's most developed economy. South Africa's land question remains one of the continent's most sensitive political and economic challenges. Nearly three decades after apartheid's formal end, approximately 72% of agricultural land remains in white hands, while the black majority—who comprise 80% of the population—controls a fraction of productive territory. The African National Congress (ANC) government has periodically revisited proposals for expropriation without compensation (EWC), particularly under former President Jacob Zuma, though implementation has remained limited compared to rhetoric. Trump's interjection into this debate—reportedly expressing concern about "farm seizures"—reflects broader Western anxieties about property rights erosion in developing markets. However, his comments misrepresent current policy reality. The South African government has pursued gradualist approaches, including willing-buyer-willing-seller mechanisms and targeted redistribution programs, rather than wholesale expropriation. Yet the political amplification of land reform rhetoric, especially through international media, risks creating perception gaps that outweigh actual policy implementation. For European investors, the implications are multifaceted. Agricultural investors, particularly those in viticulture, horticulture, and grain production,