In April 1994, South Africa’s era of oppression officially ended when Apartheid was brought to a close. However, now 24 years on, South Africa is still feeling the effects of Apartheid. The latest issue to affect the country is land and the farmers who make their living on it.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is working towards amending the country’s constitution. According to reports, the ANC has cleared a path to legally seize land from  South African farmers. If the seizures do occur, farmers (mostly white South Africans) will lose some of their land without compensation.

Why is South Africa’s ANC preparing to take the land? The political party wants to return the land to the people who had it stolen away during colonialism and Apartheid. Those people where black South Africans who lost their property due to the oppression of Apartheid.

So far, the proposed expropriation of land has caused numerous debates while also driving the rand’s value down. Will expropriation of land hurt investment into South Africa or will it continue to help build the nation? President Ramaphosa has on more than one occasion emphasised that addressing the land question is critical to unlocking greater economic potential and bringing the majority of the people into the economic mainstream thereby addressing deep rooted poverty.

Totalprestige Magazine spoke with Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of famed South African President Nelson Mandela, about the issue and what is really occurring in the country.