Land Expropriation Without Compensation is a Step Closer to Reality in South Africa

It's become a dividing line in South African politics and attracted much international attention, but today the Constitutional Review Committee in South Africa's Parliament voted 12-4 to recommend amending the constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation. This recommendation has come after months of public hearings and months of controversy and was supported by the ANC and the National Freedom Party.

President Cyril Ramaphosa informed the European Parliament that the land reforms will be "resolved through adherence to the rule of law and adherence to the constitution," Eyewitness Newsreports. The Democratic Alliance's counter proposal on the final recommendations was dismissed by the same vote margin, according to IOL.

The report will then be presented to South Africa's National Assembly for debate.

Although the ANC announced the enactment of land reforms a few months ago, OkayAfrica contributor Rufaro Samangapoints out that there have been ongoing restitution projects since 1994. What makes this recommendation different in comparison is how the land will be returned without compensation.

"In spite of that, the land must be returned," Samanga says. "And since it was taken from black people without compensation, it stands to reason that it should rightfully be returned to its owners, also without compensation."

South Africans have been sharing thoughts on this new ruling on social media. Here are some of their reactions below.