Johannesburg - The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu has instructed her department to meet with the US Embassy in Pretoria today following US President Donald Trump's controversial tweet.
Trump tweeted on Thursday morning that he had instructed his Secretary of State Mark Pompeo to study “South Africa’s land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large-scale killing of white farmers”.
Sisulu said she will also discuss the comment with Pompeo through diplomatic channels.
"Minister Sisulu said South Africa has good political, economic and trade relations with the United States of America and that diplomatic channels remain open to provide clarity on issues of mutual interest," said Sisulu spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya in a statement on Thursday.
The government tweeted on Thursday morning that Trump’s tweets were a “narrow perception” that seeks to divide the country.
“South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past.”
“South Africa will speed up the pace of land reform in a careful and inclusive manner that does not divide our nation,” said the government.
The Cabinet has also described as unfortunate comments by Trump on the debate in the country about the expropriation of land without compensation.
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