Afrikaners are not land thieves – AfriBusiness.

“If you attempt to accuse a group of people who do not even compose 8% of the population of theft, you must be a very desperate man, Mr Jacob Zuma.” That is the opinion of Armand Greyling, Law and Policy Analyst at AfriBusiness.

This follows after President Zuma met with ANC supporters in Rustenburg on 8 January 2016 during the ruling party’s 104th birthday celebrations. He emphasised that the source of poverty, unemployment and inequality is due to land that was “stolen” from indigenous groups.

“This is a tell-tale sign of how desperate the ANC is becoming simply to remain in power. Never since 1994 has the ANC ever used such language to reference land reform, but taking into account the ANC’s current leadership and opposing parties becoming genuine threats to its rule, these types of remarks seem to be imminent,” added Greyling.

Section 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 describes the right to property and that no one may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and that no law may permit arbitrary deprivation thereof. It also states that property may be expropriated in terms of law of general application for public purposes or in public interest, but subject to compensation.

AfriBusiness will not stand by and watch Government bully its way to power. The business rights watchdog instead challenges the ANC to continue with its land reform threats, as it will be met with swift and aggressive opposition.