Catholic Church in South Africa Calls for “racial reconciliation” amid Land Reform that Irked Trump

The development in South Africa concerning land, he said, “is a very complex and very sensitive issue that calls for genuine reconciliation.”

“Racial reconciliation in South Africa cannot be comprehensive if the land matter is not handled properly,” Fr. Muyebe said during the Monday, February 17 interview. 

The member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans – OP) decried what he described as the “manufacturing of facts and misrepresentation” surrounding South Africa’s post-apartheid land reform, calling it a highly sensitive issue that has been “unfortunately exploited by recent developments in global geopolitics.”

He said, “Hearing what has been presented by the United States, but also in the media, there are some aspects that are facts, but there’s also manufacturing of facts, misrepresentation.”

Fr. Muyebe made reference to the country’s constitution and explained that any land restitution should “not undermine food security or economic productivity.

He said further in reference to the constitution, “Although the government has introduced new legislation to accelerate land redistribution, controversy remains regarding the extent and manner of compensation.”

“We are confident that this matter will be addressed when the legislation is taken for review at the constitutional court, which will most likely happen,” said the South African Priest.

Fr. Muyebe expressed optimism that the planned national dialogue on land reforms in South Africa would provide a collective solution to land issues and other areas of contention in the country.

According to a Reuters report,  the U.S. administration's disapproval of South Africa's land reform policies has jeopardized the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade agreement allowing South African agricultural products tariff-free access to U.S. markets.

According to the report, the potential revocation of AGOA benefits could adversely affect South African industries, including wine and citrus producers. Some U.S. lawmakers advocate for terminating AGOA benefits due to South Africa's land policies, arguing that the reforms discriminate against white farmers.

In the February 17 interview with the SACBC communications office, Fr. Muyebe also weighed in on the suspension of U.S. foreign aid to South Africa, describing the move as a wake-up call to African leaders to address “dependency” and “find a way in which critical programs that we have in Africa should be funded internally.”