President Ramaphosa Reaffirms Commitment to Land Reform and Justice During SONA 2024 Reply

President Ramaphosa Pledges Equitable Land Reform and Protection Against Forced Removals in SONA 2024 Response.

In a powerful reply to the debate on the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed the government's commitment to land reform and justice for victims of past injustices. He declared that forced removals, a painful legacy of the apartheid era, will never happen again under the democratic government.

The President's remarks followed extensive debates in Parliament, where many speakers addressed the land question, a central issue in South Africa's history and future. Ramaphosa reiterated that the 1913 Natives Land Act, which dispossessed black South Africans of their land, was a profound injustice whose effects persist to this day. Citing Solomon T. Plaatje, he described the Act as an "insidious law that rendered black South Africans pariahs in the land of their birth."

The President highlighted the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which he promulgated in January. This landmark law ensures that property may only be expropriated for a public purpose or in the public interest, with just and equitable compensation, in line with constitutional principles.

Reflecting on historical forced removals, Ramaphosa recalled the destruction of District Six in Cape Town, where 60,000 people were displaced to make way for a whites-only suburb. He further noted that over two decades, the apartheid regime forcibly removed more than 3.5 million people from areas such as Sophiatown, Marabastad, Cato Manor, Kroonstad, and Nelspruit.

"The people of this country know the pain of forced removals. That is why we will never allow forced removals again," the President stated firmly.

He underscored that the Constitution prohibits arbitrary deprivation of property and mandates just and equitable compensation for expropriation. Additionally, the state must take reasonable measures to ensure equitable access to land.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the progress made in land restitution efforts, such as the ongoing return of families to District Six, but stressed that the journey toward justice and reconciliation is far from over.

"We are firmly committed to the fundamental principle that South Africa belongs to all who live in it," he concluded. "We strive for a society that is non-racial, non-sexist, and united in diversity."

The President's address marks a continued pledge to confront the injustices of the past while building a just and equitable future for all South Africans.