There is evidence that the emergence of Cyril Ramaphosa as South African President is buoying up Marxist sentiments in that country. Last week, the parliament, which is dominated by members of the African National Congress, ANC, voted overwhelmingly to seize without compensation all the land owned by White farmers in South Africa.
Reports say the proposal, which passed 241 to 83, was put forward by the Marxist radical, Julius Malema, Head of the party known as Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF.
The plan would amend part of South Africa’s constitution and allow the government to take the land from White farmers without providing them with any financial compensation. It is believed that the ANC, which is increasingly leaning Marxist, fully supports the proposal.
As the man spearheading the move, Julius Malema, put it, “The time for reconciliation is over. Now is the time for justice. We must ensure that we restore the dignity of our people without compensating the criminals who stole our land.”
However, on the land-confiscation vote, the Minister of Water Affairs, Gugile Nkwinti, was quoted as saying, “The ANC unequivocally supports the principle of land expropriation without compensation. There is no doubt about it, the land shall be expropriated without compensation.”
Minority parties in the parliament, the Democratic Alliance party, and the Freedom Front Plus party, a tiny faction that represents the white Afrikaner minority, opposed the motion.
Concerned individuals and civil rights groups have already been reacting to the vote. They have accused the EFF and ANC of inciting an ongoing spate of attacks on White farmers characterized by extreme brutality, rape and torture.
But the matter is not concluded yet. Although the motion passed in the parliament, the issue of amending the constitution will be reviewed by the Constitutional Review Committee.
