South Africa parliament passes motion to seize land owned by Whites
South Africa’s parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of a motion that will begin the process of amending the country’s Constitution to allow for the confiscation of white-owned land without compensation.
The motion was brought by Julius Malema, leader of the radical Marxist opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters, and passed overwhelmingly by 241 votes to 83 against.
The only parties which did not support the motion are the Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Cope and the African Christian Democratic Party.
The move was a key part of recently elected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s platform.
Ramaphosa, who has long supported Nelson Mandela’s vision for South Africa, took office last month, replacing former President Jacob Zuma.
More than two decades after white-minority rule came to an end in South Africa, most of the country’s profitable farming land is owned by white residents.
According to Bloomberg, a 2017 government audit found white people owned 72 percent of farmland in South Africa.
PETITION TO TRUMP
ANC deputy chief whip Dorries Eunice Dlakude said the party “recognises that the current policy instruments, including the willing-buyer willing-seller policy and other provisions of Section 25 of the Constitution may be hindering effective land reform”.
After the vote more than 10,500 people have signed a petition asking United States President Donald Trump to let white people in South Africa emigrate to the US.
The petition calls on the US leader to “take the steps necessary to initiate an emergency immigration plan allowing white Boers to come to the United States.” Boer is the term used to describe South Africans of Dutch, German or Huguenot descent, who are also commonly referred to as Afrikaners.
The petition suggests that Trump should stop admitting refugees from Somalia and the Middle East, claiming they “cannot be properly vetted,” and allow white South Africans into the country instead.
They “can be easily vetted and also possess skills that make them compatible with our culture and civilization,” the petition says.
A similar petition, calling on European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May to allow white South Africans into EU countries, has gained nearly 17,000 signatures.