British Prime Minister Theresa May has endorsed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s land expropriation plans.
“The UK has for some time supported land reform in South Africa that will be a legal, transparent and democratic process,” said May, who was in Cape Town yesterday as part of a three-nation African tour.
She said from previous discussions with Ramaphosa, she is convinced it will not be a “smash and grab” process, but one responsibly designed to encourage economic growth.
On her one-day working visit to South Africa, May stopped at the ID Mkhize Secondary School in Gugulethu, where she was greeted by singing and dancing students.
May used her Cape Town visit to announce her government’s first post-Brexit trade pact.
She confirmed that Britain intends to carry over the EU’s current partnership with six southern African countries - Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
She also said the British government would invest £4 billion (R73b) in African economies.
“By 2022, I want the UK to be the G7’s number one investor in Africa, with Britain’s private sector companies taking the lead in investing the billions that will see Africa’s economies grow by trillions,” said May.
Ramaphosa said the meeting recommitted the two countries to forge economic partnerships.
“We also confirmed our wish that the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union are concluded in a manner that restores stability to economic and financial markets,” said Ramaphosa.
He added he was pleased the Joint Statement on the UK, Customs Union and Mozambique Economic Partnership Agreement was signed.