IN a bid to confront the enduring legacy of apartheid, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled plans to expedite land reform, aiming to empower emerging farmers and rectify historical injustices. Ramaphosa made this announcement on Thursday, coinciding with Human Rights Day, a poignant reminder of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960.
Ramaphosa, addressing the gathered crowd, stated, ‘We are committed to accelerating land reform to redress the injustices of apartheid and provide emerging farmers with the resources they need to thrive.’
During apartheid, a system of racial segregation, people of colour were forcibly dispossessed of land, a reality Ramaphosa acknowledged in his address. He revealed, ‘Nearly 4 million hectares of land have been returned to those who were unjustly dispossessed.’
The Sharpeville massacre, where apartheid police fatally shot 69 anti-apartheid protesters, remains a seminal event in South Africa’s history, symbolising the struggle against racial oppression.
‘Today, we remember the sacrifices made at Sharpeville and renew our commitment to building a more just society,’ Ramaphosa declared, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past to shape a better future.
Land reform remains a contentious issue in South Africa, where much of the farmland and wealth is still owned by minority whites, three decades after the end of apartheid. Ramaphosa stressed, ‘We cannot truly move forward as a nation until we rectify the injustices of the past. Our government is committed to providing support and resources to emerging farmers.’
Addressing criticisms of his administration, particularly regarding ongoing power outages caused by maintenance issues in power plants, Ramaphosa compared the challenges of today with the injustices of apartheid. He stressed that under apartheid, many South Africans were denied basic services like electricity.
Despite criticisms from some quarters suggesting life was better under apartheid, Ramaphosa reaffirmed the strides made in post-apartheid South Africa. He cited significant achievements, including improved housing, access to electricity, and clean drinking water, under the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) party.
Ramaphosa concluded his speech by honouring the sacrifices of those who fought against apartheid, underscoring the importance of remembering their struggles and hardships. He urged South Africans to reflect on the progress made and to remain steadfast in the pursuit of equality and justice.