Russian authorities are encouraging farmers from South Africa to move abroad in the hope of boosting the country's agricultural industry.

This follows the announcement from the council for the city of Ekurhuleni to seize acres of land from private owners to build housing.

This summer South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he wanted to change the country's constitution to allow expropriations, a move which received widespread condemnation throughout the country.

Russian authorities are encouraging South Africans to move abroad in the hope of boosting the country's agricultural industry following President Cyril Ramaphosa (above) expropriation laws

Putin's government has already removed the tourist visa requirements for South Africans enabling them buy potential homes

Critics said the plans, which allows the authorities to seize white-owned land without giving compensation, was evident of the government not respecting the rule of law.

However the plans could now see Russia benefit and acquire skilled labourers, with experts travelling to the country to talk about trade with locals.

According to The Daily Star Vladimir Poluboyarenko, a government liaison from the Stavropol region in southern Russia, said: 'I want them to know that Russia can be their mother country, too.'

The Russian Government have also removed the tourist visa requirements for South Africans enabling them to buy potential homes.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses people during a hand over of 4,586 hectares of land to the community of KwaMkwanazi in Empangeni

In August white farmers in South Africa were seen trying to flog their land as fears grew that the government was about to start a widespread campaign of seizures.

Two farms in the north of the country reportedly became the first targets for seizures after talks between the government and owners about buying the land broke down.

Agri SA union, which represents mainly white commercial farmers, warned that the land expropriations may rob South Africa.

According to The Daily Star Omri van Zyl, of agricultural industry association AgriSA, said: 'The Russian agricultural sector is very interesting to us, and we are also interested in the Russian market.

'The Russians support us very much from this point of view, because you have already been through this.'