Land must be expropriated without compensation

"And so deep into history, you’ve taken us back to the 17th century. In that case, shouldn’t everyone return the land to the Khoisan, who are believed to have been the native inhabitants of South Africa?

No, actually Africa and South Africa belong to the Bantu people. They belong to the Nguni. So they belong to the people of Africa.

And what about Tevi here?

We're not saying he doesn't belong here. Now that we live together here, our perspective is that the land must be—must return to the chiefs. The traditional leaders and the State have not apologized for this. The land must be expropriated without compensation."

Land Expropriation from White Farmers in South Africa

In recent years, South Africa has pushed forward land reform policies aimed at redistributing agricultural land from white landowners' citizens, as a way to address the historical injustices of apartheid, during which the white minority accumulated most of the country’s productive land. This process has sparked intense debate both nationally and internationally.

One of the most controversial elements has been the proposal of expropriation without compensation, meaning that land could be taken from current owners without financial reimbursement. This measure has been supported by leaders of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and more radical parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), but it has also drawn criticism from human rights organizations, farming groups, and foreign governments, who warn of threats to private property rights, economic stability, and food security.

The government argues that land redistribution is necessary to reduce deep-rooted racial inequality, while critics claim it amounts to racial confiscation. In addition, some associations representing white farmers have reported incidents of rural violence, threats, and political pressure to abandon their land.

Although large-scale implementation of expropriation without compensation has not yet occurred due to legal challenges and political resistance, it remains a sensitive and divisive issue in South African politics, where the challenge is to balance historical justice with respect for the rule of law and the agricultural economy.