NATIONAL NEWS - President Cyril Ramaphosa managed to press the pause button on the “swart gevaar” fears surrounding land expropriation without compensation during his first question and answer session in parliament as the country’s leader.

In allaying fears, Ramaphosa told MPs all issues around land would be an inclusive process in which all South Africans are actively involved.

His assurance comes after land grab incidents at the weekend which analysts say opposition parties used to their electioneering advantage ahead of next year’s national elections.

But Ramaphosa was quick to call for calm, even if only temporarily, said political analyst Daniel Silke.

“It was imperative Ramaphosa made some effort to de-escalate what rapidly became a divisive and polarising issue within the country,” said Silke.

“What we saw was an effort to try and return the debate to one of pending and extensive dialogue over the next months.

“He tried to control the narrative of land … and he largely succeeded in reining in some of the more extreme views on all sides. He was able to put a pause on the fear-mongering, radical language and the politicking.

“It was a mature way of dealing with it in true Ramaphosa style. But, of course, this is an issue that is going to boil for any number of months and perhaps even longer. I think this approach would have calmed some of the nerves in various quarters.”

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.