South Africa: Proposed Amendments to the South African Constitution to Allow for the Expropriation of Land Without Compensation Fail

On December 7, 2021, South African Parliament failed to pass the proposed amendments to Section 25 of the Constitution which would have allowed for the expropriation of land without compensation. This decision has been met with mixed reactions from the agricultural sector, with the larger commercial agricultural associations (with majority white membership) and the banking sector expressing relief, while associations representing black farmers have generally expressed disappointment. Some opposition political parties have indicated that this matter will still be pursued, and there are possibilities that the debate on expropriating land without compensation may be revived when Parliament considers a different expropriation bill not aimed at land reform.