Johannesburg: South Africa has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump's decision to freeze aid to the country over a law he claims would allow land to be seized from white farmers.

In a statement on Saturday, the South African government expressed concern over what it described as a campaign of misinformation and propaganda aimed at misrepresenting the nation. "It is disappointing to observe that such narratives seem to have found favor among decision-makers in the United States," the statement read.

Trump, in an executive order, alleged that the proposed law would enable the South African government to confiscate agricultural property belonging to the minority Afrikaner community without compensation. His order also highlighted foreign policy clashes between the two nations, particularly over the ongoing war in Gaza.

South Africa responded by saying it had "taken note" of Trump's decision but raised concerns over the lack of factual accuracy in the claims. The government emphasized that the executive order fails to acknowledge South Africa's complex history of colonialism and apartheid.

Land ownership remains a highly sensitive issue in South Africa. Despite the official end of apartheid nearly 30 years ago, a majority of farmland is still owned by white South Africans. The government has been under pressure to accelerate land reforms to address historic inequalities.