Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off aid to South Africa, arguing that the nation could counter by withholding its abundant minerals. Speaking at the 2025 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Mantashe rebuked Trump’s claim that South Africa was confiscating land, noting that the recently adopted Expropriation Act is a legal, constitutionally guided process rather than an act of confiscation. He urged Africa to leverage its natural resources and negotiate from a position of strength, highlighting the continent’s status as the richest mining jurisdiction. Mantashe also criticized the imbalance in trade dynamics, comparing Africa’s raw commodity exports to China’s thriving finished goods industry. Meanwhile, the South African Presidency has released a statement denying Trump’s allegation. Nevertheless, President Cyril Ramaphosa invited further dialogue with the US on its land reform policy as well as on bilateral issues.
Source: TimesLIVE