A G20 delegation from South Africa has met with US officials from the Trump administration to clear up misconceptions on the Expropriation Act.
Image: Saul Loeb / AFP
A delegation of senior officials, led by South Africa's G20 Sherpa, Zane Dangor, went to the United Nations General Assembly to brief them on South Africa's G20 presidency.
During their tour, the delegation continued conversations started by outgoing US Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, meeting with counterparts in Washington DC, including top officials from the White House and the State Department, to explore bilateral goals.
The group highlighted critical concerns and misconceptions about the country.
"We believe that these dialogues will assist to refine the current administration's understanding of South Africa's position on critical matters, fostering a more nuanced perspective.
"The delegation directly addressed the perception that the South African Government's policies are designed to violate the human rights of minorities in post-apartheid South Africa," said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
One of the problems discussed was how the Expropriation Act's zero compensation clause is not intended to enable illegal land seizures and discourage property investment, but rather to ensure that:
"During the cordial discussions the senior officials addressed misconceptions on what has been presented by some as race laws designed to undermine minority rights in South Africa.
"To this end, the senior officials presented information which highlights the pervasive racial and structural inequality that continues to divide South Africa in all areas of the nation."
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