Durban – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has announced plans to introduce a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament aimed at radical land reform, including potential nationalisation of all land in South Africa.
The party wants to remove the provision for compensation in Section 25 of the Constitution and declare all land “the common heritage of all South Africans.”
It also proposes changing the land claims cut-off date from 1913 to 1652, arguing this would address historical dispossession dating back to colonial arrival.
“This will bring the 87% of land currently excluded into the restitution and redistribution process, addressing historical dispossession dating back to the arrival of colonialism,” the MK party said in a statement.
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) April 7, 2026
The party further proposes that land be placed under state custodianship alongside traditional leaders, effectively shifting away from private land ownership. It says this system would improve land use, food security, and support for rural communities.
The proposal has drawn criticism from groups such as AfriForum, which says extending the claims date to 1652 is impractical due to lack of records and historical complexity. It also warned that expropriation without compensation risks repeating human rights violations and is vulnerable to mismanagement.
The MK Party says it will engage like-minded parties to advance the bill, insisting that land reform is urgent and that its proposed model is both “practical and workable.”
Picture: X/@DZumaSambudla
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
