According to reports, President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure from certain ANC ministers to expedite the Expropriation of Land Without Compensation policy’s implementation. Those in the know say the ministers are hoping to boost the ANC’s prospects in the 2026 local elections—when they will likely encounter strong opposition—by implementing the contentious legislation.
Public and political leaders in South Africa have long been divided over the land problem, which has sparked heated arguments about ownership, reparations, and the economic impact. Opponents of expropriation point out that it would undermine investor trust and throw the economy into chaos, while proponents of the practice insist it’s essential for righting past wrongs. It is important to strike a balance between land reform and economic stability, as President Ramaphosa has repeatedly stressed.
But fresh pressure from inside his own party indicates the ANC is trying to find ways to keep voters’ support in the run-up to the polls. Although it is yet unclear if the president will give in to the increasing demands, this development does indicate that there are increasing tensions inside the ruling party ahead of a high-stakes election season.