President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address (SONA) reply to take a firm stance on land expropriation, dismissing concerns raised by opposition parties and international critics, including the United States.
What Ramaphosa said about land expropriation without compensation
He assured South Africans that the recently signed Expropriation Act would not lead to forced removals, contrary to claims made by groups such as AfriForum and the DA.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the historical injustices of land dispossession, referencing the forced removals under apartheid that saw millions of black South Africans displaced.
He reiterated that land reform was necessary to correct past injustices while maintaining adherence to constitutional principles.
“The people of this country know the pain of forced removals. That is why we will never allow forced removals again in this country. That is why we have a constitution that prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of property.”
The president directly addressed the DA’s legal challenge against the Act, dismissing allegations that it allowed for land grabs. He accused opposition parties of fearmongering and delaying transformation efforts.
Ramaphosa also criticised the role of AfriForum and its lobbying efforts in the US, which led to President Donald Trump cutting funding and granting refugee status to Afrikaners.
He described this as an attempt to undermine South Africa’s sovereignty.
Political divisions over the Expropriation Act
While Ramaphosa defended the Expropriation Act, political parties remain sharply divided.
- The DA has taken legal action to stop the law, citing concerns over its constitutionality and procedural irregularities.
- The MK Party, on the other hand, has rallied calls for full expropriation without compensation, arguing that the law still favours white landowners.
- The ANC insists the law strikes a balance between redress and economic stability, but its coalition partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) are not aligned on the issue.
MK Party MP Nhlamulo Ndhlela dismissed Ramaphosa’s promises, labelling the Expropriation Act as a continuation of apartheid land policies.
“The MKP will not support policies that betray the people. The so-called Government of National Unity is a failed state that prioritizes the interests of the white community over Black South Africans.”
The legal battles surrounding the Expropriation Act could delay its implementation, but Ramaphosa made it clear that his administration would push ahead with land reform.
