Expropriation Without Compensation: For The People Or For The Party?

Ten percent. This figure represents the share of land in South Africa returned to natives since apartheid (“Dream of Fields”)! The ruling party still in power today―the ANC, or African National Congress―promised in 1994 that by 1999, the government would buy back 30% of the nation’s land at market value to return to black natives (“Dream of Fields”).

Now, in 2018―nearly twenty years after the promised deadline―only a third of their goal has been accomplished (“Dream of Fields”). Recently, the nation’s parliament has agreed to have a committee review the constitution by August 30th through a motion proposed by Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF) to determine whether the government can expropriate land without compensation (Monteiro). Cyril Ramaphosa―the current interim president and leader of the ANC―and his party supports this policy. Many speculate, however, that their backing is merely an appeal to their voter base against their competitor, the EPP (Powell).

Ramophosa believes this “short cut” (“Don’t do as”) would accelerate their efforts and fulfill the party’s promise to “resolve the issue of racial disparities in property ownership ‘once and for all’” (Stoddard). The Native Land Act of 1913 evicted black people from their lands while apartheid forced them into “homelands” (“Don’t do as”). Right now, those who can claim their land have had enough waiting for their land to be returned. Julius Malema, the leader of the EPP, says that "now is the time for justice” and accuses those misunderstanding their needs, particularly the descendants of European settlers, that they “have failed to receive the gift of humanity” (Powell). One group skeptical of ANC’s support of such policy is the Black Land First Movement, the loudest supporters of this land seizure policy, labeling their backing as an “electioneering gimmick” (Powell).

Moreover, many experts fear the economic shortfalls of this policy which had already affected South Africa’s neighbor Zimbabwe, whose former president, Robert Mugabe, had forcefully seized land from white farm owners in 2000 and ruined “one of southern Africa’s most diversified economies” (“Dream of Fields”). To prevent something similar from happening in South Africa, Ramaphosa calls for reform which takes economic downfall into account. However, many are still left unconvinced and confused about such an “uncertain” policy (“Dream of Fields”). Additionally, the nation’s focus as a whole has shifted, potentially making the policy ineffectual for the modern era. Two-third of South Africans live in the cities, with only 2% saying farming and owning land is their main concern and 70% agreeing that unemployment is their biggest worry (“Don’t do as”). Most of them either don’t want to return to the countryside for farming (“Don’t do as”) or simply don’t have enough experience in running farmland by themselves (“Dream of Fields”). Coupled with the nation’s already-worrying and rising unemployment rate of 37% and a stagnant economy (“Don’t do as”), most living in cities are disinterested in such policy and worry instead for the economic situations of their families and themselves. Even those who have claims want monetary compensation rather than farmland.

If he truly wants to get reelected, Ramaphosa needs to rethink his policies. He must consider and act upon pulling the poor out of poverty with, for example, an improved education system and job market. Land reform is definitely is an issue still worth discussing, especially in a nation still ravaged by racial disparities. One viable alternative to expropriation without compensation out of many is the 50/50 framework, in which the government buys land and resells it to a company co-owned by both the farmers and farm workers (“Dream of Fields”). Ultimately, this would reallocate land to the “natives” without stripping original landowners from their the land completely, giving everyone a part to benefit the nation and a government that works for all its people!

Works Cited

"Don't do as Robert Mugabe did; Land reform in South Africa." The Economist, 27 Jan. 2018, p. 11(US). Global Issues in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A524864027/GIC?u=los42754&xid=f4acc63c. Accessed 12 Mar. 2018.

"Dreams of fields; Land in South Africa." The Economist, 27 Jan. 2018, p. 42(US). Global Issues in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A524864037/GIC?u=los42754&xid=30cb2cad. Accessed 13 Mar. 2018.

Powell, Anita. “South Africa Explores Constitutional Change to Allow Land Seizures.” VOA, VOA, 28 Feb. 2018, www.voanews.com/a/south-africa-explores-constitutional-change-allow-land-seizures/4274508.html.

Stoddard, Ed. “Explainer: South Africa Aims to Expropriate Land without Compensation.” Edited by James Macharia and Philippa Fletcher, Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 14 Mar. 2018, www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-land-explainer/explainer-south-africa-aims-to-expropriate-land-without-compensation-idUSKCN1GQ280?il=0.