Global Ag View: Land reform high on agenda in South African elections

The ANC has been in power since 1994 but anger over the economy and corruption has hit its popularity.

The rise of the radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has placed land reform high up the agenda as a solution to poverty in the country.

The white minority still owns disproportionately more land than the black majority following apartheid.

The EFF has put pressure on the ANC to tackle land reform, with President Cyril Ramaphosa making it a priority, including taking land from white farmers without compensation.

In its 2019 election manifesto, the party said it would carry out a ‘sustainable’ land reform programme, expanding participation in agricultural production.

But the EFF vowed all land taken back would be under the custodianship of the state, for equal redistribution to all.