The U.S. State Department has issued an immediate suspension of most foreign assistance to South Africa. This move officially enforces an executive order signed by Donald Trump that has sparked significant controversy.
The directive, issued on Thursday, enacts Executive Order 14204, which targets what the administration describes as “egregious actions” by South Africa. It mandates that all State Department entities immediately halt aid disbursements, with only a few exceptions.
“To effectively implement EO 14204, all bureaus, offices, and missions shall pause all obligations and/or dispersion of aid or assistance to South Africa,” states the cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This directive follows the executive order issued on February 7, which was part of a broader reassessment of U.S. foreign aid. That reassessment temporarily halted certain types of foreign assistance while undergoing review.
The order specifically references “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers who established a segregationist regime that denied fundamental rights to the Black majority until the end of apartheid in 1994.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur born in South Africa and a key Trump ally, has played a significant role in shaping the administration’s stance on the country.
As the head of Trump’s government efficiency team, Musk has condemned South Africa’s policies, claiming they are “openly racist.” Although white South Africans make up only 7% of the population, they continue to hold a disproportionate share of wealth and land.
According to the cable, Rubio has assigned authority to Pete Marocco, a staunch Trump supporter who previously oversaw the dismantling of foreign aid programs at USAID and the State Department.
President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo: Flickr)Marocco will determine which aid programs, if any, will continue. The guidance makes clear that approval will only be granted under “a very high bar for such requests.”
The only program allowed to proceed without additional review is Pepfar, the U.S. global HIV/AIDS initiative that provides life-saving treatment to millions of South Africans.
All other aid programs, including those that had previously received exceptions under the January foreign aid pause, will require special authorization.
This development marks another escalation in tensions between the two historically friendly nations. The friction intensified after President Trump accused South Africa of using its new land law to discriminate against white citizens—claims that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed as misinformation.
The land bill in question allows the government to seize private land without compensation in specific cases. Supporters of the legislation argue that such actions would be rare and subject to judicial oversight.
In addition to land policies, Trump has also criticized South Africa for its prominent role in bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Further straining relations, he has offered refugee status to wealthy white Afrikaners seeking to relocate to the United States.
The aid suspension follows South Africa’s recent announcement that it is preparing a new trade proposal for the Trump administration.
Officials in the country are bracing for the potential termination of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which has facilitated billions of dollars in duty-free exports to the U.S.
Earlier on Thursday, South Africa released a statement acknowledging the U.S. withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (Jetp).
The move has led to the cancellation of previously funded climate projects after Trump rescinded U.S. participation in international climate finance initiatives.
