WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2018) US President Donald Trump was trying to distract Americans from his "criminal cabal" by attacking South Africa and has no discernible Africa policy, former US Ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard said in a statement on Thursday.
"The President of the US needs political distractions to turn our gaze away from his criminal cabal, and so hes attacking South Africa with the disproven racial myth of 'large scale killings of farmers.' This man has never visited the continent and has no discernible Africa policy," Gaspard said.
On Wednesday, Trump said that he had tasked State Secretary Mike Pompeo with examining the South African "land and farm seizures and expropriations" and alleged mass killings of farmers after a Fox news report on seizures of land belonging to white farmers by the South African government.
The South African government has condemned Trump's comments, calling his perception of the project both narrow and biased, adding that Trump was underbriefed on the country's reforms.
South Africa's Foreign Ministry said it plans to seek a clarification on the matter on Thursday with the US Embassy in Pretoria, and Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will communicate with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo through diplomatic channels.
In December, the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party, adopted a resolution providing for the redistribution of lands in favor of black South Africans without compensation. Since then the country's authorities have been engaged in discussions with the aim of deciding on measures to help implement the plan.
