With only a quarter of the seats, the bid is unlikely to succeed. But it could be used to paint the ANC as sell-outs, putting the ruling party in a tough spot.
South Africa's radical black nationalist opposition parties are set to renew their push to amend the constitution, allowing for land expropriation without compensation. This move is spearheaded by former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and other black-national-socialist factions. John Hlophe, parliamentary leader of the MKP, announced this initiative in Cape Town on Thursday.
“We shall fight for expropriation of land without compensation for equitable redistribution,” Hlophe asserted.
These parties have formed a "progressive caucus," positioning themselves against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) coalition government, which recently allied with centrist parties after losing its parliamentary majority in the May elections—a consequence largely attributed to the rise of Zuma’s party.
The leftist caucus holds 102 of the 400 parliamentary seats, making their bid to amend the constitution an uphill battle. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, necessitating support from the ruling coalition.
Even if their attempt fails, the radical factions aim to portray the ANC as "anti-black" and counterrevolutionary, potentially weakening its electoral base further. These groups frequently accuse Ramaphosa of being beholden to "white monopoly capital," a narrative they will likely amplify now that the ANC has allied with the white-led Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (VF+).
The ANC’s share of the national vote dropped to 40.2% in the May 29 election, a significant decline from 57.5% in 2019.
A previous attempt to amend the constitution failed due to disagreements between the ANC and EFF. The ANC sought to define specific conditions for expropriation, while the EFF advocated for comprehensive nationalization with the state as the custodian of all land.
Hlophe, recently the first judge impeached by parliament in democratic South Africa, also indicated that the caucus plans to revisit efforts to impeach Ramaphosa over the cash-in-sofa scandal. This controversy involves allegations that Ramaphosa mishandled the theft of R10.6 million hidden in a couch at his game farm, a case that lawmakers previously dismissed despite an advisory panel suggesting constitutional breaches.
