WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said here on Thursday that the current land reform policy in South Africa would send the country "down the wrong path."
Speaking at a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that U.S. President Donald Trump had discussed South Africa with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and asked him "to look closely at the current state of action in South Africa related to land reform."
She said U.S. embassy officials have held meetings with the South African government over the issue on Thursday, but did not give more details of the meetings.
Trump tweeted late Wednesday that "I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers," adding that the South African government is "seizing land from white farmers."
In response, the South African government tweeted that "South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past ..."
It added that "South Africa will speed up the pace of land reform in a careful and inclusive manner that does not divide our nation."
