S. Africa's Ramaphosa: Land Expropriation Won't Be 'Smash and Grab'

CAPE TOWN - South Africa's new President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday he would not allow "smash and grab" interventions when undertaking land expropriation without compensation, a policy he has promised to pursue to speed up the transfer of land to black people.

Ramaphosa reiterated in a speech to parliament that expropriation of land without compensation should be done in a way that improves food security and agricultural output.

"For it to serve this purpose, we will need to locate this measure within a broad and comprehensive land redistribution and agricultural development program," Ramaphosa said.

"This is a profound responsibility that has been given to our generation. We owe it to our ancestors and to our children to ensure that we fulfil it," Ramaphosa said.

"In dealing with this complex matter, we will not make the mistakes that others have made. We will not allow smash and grab interventions," Ramaphosa said.

Two decades after the end of apartheid, the ruling African National Congress party is under pressure to redress racial disparities in land ownership where whites own most of the land.