A record number of South African farms have been put up for sale by white owners said to be in a state of panic after the ruling party announced that it was considering confiscating properties bigger than 25,000 acres.

Gwede Mantashe, chairman of the African National Congress (ANC), offered the first clarity in a newspaper interview this week on the issue which has hung over the country since President Ramaphosa committed his party to land expropriation. “You shouldn’t own more than [25,000 acres] of land,” Mr Mantashe said. “Therefore if you own more it should be taken without compensation.”

He suggested that an amendment to the constitution would be necessary to push through the policy. “People who are privileged never give away privilege as a