South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a contentious law allowing land expropriation without compensation, sparking praise and opposition. The law, aimed at addressing land ownership disparities rooted in apartheid, permits expropriation only when it is “just, equitable, and in the public interest.” The legislation follows a five-year consultative process as well as the recommendations of a presidential panel set up to look into the issue. It replaces the 1975 Expropriation Act, which required compensation under the “willing seller, willing buyer” principle. President Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), lauded the law as a transformative milestone. However, the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus, members of the ANC-led coalition government, have opposed it. The two parties have vowed legal challenges, citing constitutional concerns and threats to private property rights. Meanwhile, radical groups like the Economic Freedom Fighters argue the law falls short of resolving the land restitution issue.
Source: BBC