South Africa LAND SEIZURES: ‘Stability of the country is AT STAKE’ says nation’s leader

White farmers could face land seizures after the country’s parliament recommended constitutional changes could see the introduction of laws allowing the state to expropriate land without compensation “in the national interest”. And Mr Ramaphosa appears determined to press ahead with the controversial reforms despite exhaustive studies showing his the ANC-led government has failed to execute its policy of land restitution and redistribution because of corruption, mismanagement and a lack of will.

The President said: “A lot is at stake. You could even say that the stability of the country is at stake.

“And I am not fond of failing at anything. And this issue we will not fail on.”

White South African farmers still own around 73 percent of the country’s commercial agricultural land despite making up just nine percent of the population.

The ANC, pushed by an insurgent opposition party on the left, has resolved to amend the constitution to explicitly allow land redistribution without compensation. It is a highly contentious move that is working through a parliamentary process.

The proposals would see the introduction of laws allowing the state to expropriate land without compensation “in the national interest”.

And supporters of sweeping land reform insist the state must step in to transfer ownership of some of the land to black farmers more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

Critics fear the move will lead to the sort of disastrous food shortages suffered by neighbouring Zimbabwe following similar law changes.

A statement from South Africa’s joint opposition statement said: ”The vote on expropriation without compensation allows government the perfect cover to avoid having to explain their rank failure over the past two decades to take land reform seriously. 

“The opposition does not oppose land reform, we oppose the amendment of the Constitution.”

And opponents of reform say the constitution, adopted by a broad coalition in 1996, already allows for expropriation without compensation.

South Africa’s largest agricultural union AgriSA called the decision “unacceptable” and said it would continue to fight against its implementation.

A spokesman said: “The proposed amendment is politically motivated and will cause large scale damage to the South African economy.

“The priority for millions of South Africans is job creation, housing, crime prevention and quality education.”