African National Congress to Pursue Land Expropriation Without Compensation

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that Britain would back South Africa's land reform program if it is implemented in accordance with the law.

South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), said on Tuesday that an expropriation bill passed by parliament in 2016 enabling the state to make compulsory purchases of land to redress racial disparities in land ownership had been withdrawn.

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The expropriation bill was withdrawn so that the constitution could be amended in order to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation, the party said.

Land reform has been one of the most acute issues in South Africa since apartheid ended.

Earlier, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the white community, which accounts for eight percent of the population, owns 72 percent of farmland, while the black community, which makes up four-fifths of the population, possesses only four percent.

During the past two decades, roughly 20 million acres have been transferred to non-white citizens.