South Africa's Zuma will reaffirm populist land push

Significance

Since a controversial cabinet reshuffle on March 31 and subsequent rating agency downgrades, Zuma has faced repeated calls from ANC figures, opposition parties and civil society groups to resign. To ward off opposition to his leadership and reverse ebbing electoral support for the ANC, the president is advancing a populist programme of radical economic transformation.

Impacts

• Land reform initiatives that dilute property rights, short of expropriation, could be a major factor in further rating agency downgrades.
• Increased land ownership by traditional leaders will cause concern among civil society and human rights groups.
• Fringe leftist movements such as Black Land First will back Zuma's land proposals and that of his favoured successor.