South African president insists on amending the constitution to expropriate land

The President of the Republic of South Africa said today that the government will reform the constitution to allow the expropriation of land without paying compensation to the owners, despite the rejection of that reform by parliament in December.

According to Lusa, quoting EFE news agency, Cyril Ramaphosa assured that the government will not give up on this reform because it will promote economic development, social justice, and eliminate the inequalities created during the apartheid regime.

According to the South African head of state, who was speaking during the 110th anniversary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC), the party that has ruled the country since 1994, 30 after the end of 'apartheid', the "white minority, less than 10% of the population, owns 72% of the country's territory."

In the local elections last November, it recorded the worst electoral result in its history, being relegated to the role of opposition in most major South African cities.

Internal divisions and corruption cases have also weakened the image of Ramaphosa's party, whose government is grappling with severe economic problems, sharp inequalities, record unemployment levels, aggravated by the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

The South African president admitted those "obstacles" and promised a series of "deep reforms within the party."

"We must intensify efforts to restore our relevance, capacity and credibility as a powerful source of transformation that the people can continue to count on," Ramaphosa was quoted as saying by EFE.

Meanwhile, the South African president assured that another of the ANC's priorities is to decrease the unemployment rate, accelerate the economy, guarantee social services to all citizens, end corruption, and continue to work on a pan-African and international strategy."

The NAC was founded in 1912 to fight 'apartheid' and led the liberation of the black majority in the country from the rule of this segregationist regime.

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