The South African parliament recently voted to amend the nation’s constitution in order to “legally” confiscate white farmers’ land without compensation. The leader of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, Julius Malema, a racist radical who has long pressed for the seizure of white-owned land and businesses, welcomed the vote, stating, “We must ensure that we restore the dignity of our people without compensating the criminals who stole our land.” The current president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, who took office mere weeks ago, also embraced the race-based land-grab legislation, declaring, “This original sin that was committed when our country was colonized must be resolved in a way that will take South Africa forward.”

This news may shock those of us who have long valued individual freedom and property rights. However, the unabashed socialist racism on display with this decision in South Africa harkens back to the days of institutionalized white racism under Apartheid.

Racism gains immense power when coupled with government sanction. And forget taking South Africa “forward” — it appears the nation is fast falling for racist policies under a socialist pretense of “justice.” Socialism always presses for state power to more readily right perceived wrongs, but the inevitable terminus of statism is tyranny, as the controlling elites enact more wrongs by trampling individual rights and protections.

Currently on display in South Africa is the vindictive nature of racism, empowered by a growing socialism. The notion that the injustices of past generations can be righted by punishing the innocents of the current generation will only produce more injustice. History is replete with examples of how such a mindset leads to bloody ramifications for the masses.

The U.S. sends aid to various African nations every year. Last year alone, U.S. taxpayers gave over $350 million to South Africa. Given the government-sanctioned racism currently underway there, it’s time to question our tacit support of this new Apartheid.