South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law a contentious bill that permits the state to seize land without compensation under specific conditions, a decision that has sparked both praise and legal threats.
The new legislation aims to accelerate land reform in a country where, over three decades after the end of apartheid, the majority of farmland remains in the hands of the white minority, leaving Black South Africans with only a small share. The slow pace of redistribution has fueled frustration and anger.
While the ruling African National Congress (ANC) heralded the law as a “significant milestone” in addressing historical inequalities, members of the coalition government, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus, have voiced strong opposition. Both parties are exploring legal avenues to challenge its constitutionality.
The law replaces the 1975 Expropriation Act, which required compensation under the “willing seller, willing buyer” principle. According to the government, the updated legislation provides guidelines for land expropriation in cases deemed “just and equitable and in the public interest.” These include unused land with no plans for development, or land that poses a risk to public safety.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya clarified that the state cannot expropriate property arbitrarily and must first attempt to negotiate with landowners before proceeding.
Opponents, argue the law undermines property rights and risks economic instability. Both parties have vowed to challenge its implementation through legal and political means.
The law has reignited debates over land reform in South Africa, a deeply divisive issue that continues to shape the country’s political and social landscape.