South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that his government would launch another phase of reforms to try to lift economic growth above 3%. "We want a nation with a thriving economy, an economy that benefits all to create this virtuous cycle of investment growth and jobs,

Trump's claims about South Africa — some of them inaccurate — came soon after he ordered a 90-day freeze on most global aid, threatening hundreds of millions of dollars the U.S. gives South Africa for its HIV/AIDS program, the largest in the world.

The comments come after Washington’s decision to skip G20 talks to be held in Johannesburg, and days after US President Donald Trump announced funding cuts over Pretoria’s land expropriation bill.