#ance remove

[ayre631]

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[corvidaedream]

less than a week until i get my top surgery/mastectomy and im both very excited and very afraid

like i keep looking at myself in the mirror like "oh man, its going to be such a relief to have a flat chest"

but then also im kinda scared about how ill look with all the extra tissue from my underarms and shoulder area removed and also scared they'll find something that didn't show up on the imaging

and im scared of the recovery going badly and unforeseen insurance issues and not being able to work at the pizzeria for a month or more

[psychotrenny]

While there is a great deal of similarity between Israel and Apartheid South Africa (down to the very close ties these countries shared), their strategies to delay inevitable collapse have turned out very different especially in terms of foreign policy. Like the South African government spent its last decade or so under Apartheid pursuing what Botha called his "Total Strategy", using every possible lever of influence to force the Frontline States into subservience; keeping them economically dependent on South Africa and politically acquiescent to Apartheid.

Military force was used for sure, but the only large scale deployments were the occupations of Namibia and southern Angola. Otherwise direct military action was restricted to commando raids, focused mainly on destroying infrastructure and carrying out political assassinations. South Africa instead preferred to act through local proxies, supporting (and often creating) various reactionary terrorist movements (i.e. UNITA in Angola, RENAMO in Mozambique, LLA in Lesotho) so that the destabilising effect of constant warfare would inhibit economic development, prevent unfriendly governments from taking any real action against apartheid and allow the offer of reduced terrorist support to be a bargaining chip in negotiations.

Economically South Africa used its control over transport infrastructure and large job market as both carrot and stick, rewarding compliant governments with better access to goods and increased migrant labour quotas (for many countries a vital source of income) while punishing disobedient nations with transport disruptions and reduced access to South African jobs. The specific mix of Military and Economic strategies would be tailored to suit the particular country at a particular time; for example South Africa's pressure on Angola was almost entirely military due to the lack of economic links between the two, while Swaziland's complete dependency made economics the primary South African approach. These different forms of pressure were also applied so as to compliment each other i.e. commandos and terrorist proxies would attack alternate railways and ports to ensure goods had to be transported through South Africa.

This was mainly done to extract political concessions. By 1980 the complete overthrow of unfriendly regimes was mostly off the table, so instead efforts were focused on changing the behaviour of the groups already in power. South Africa's main obsession was with the ANC boogeyman, constantly asking their neighbours to kick out ANC training camps and diplomatic ataches and forbid movement of ANC guerillas through their territory. However all manner of other demands were also made; economic integration, military access, opposition or at least neutrality towards UN sanctions etc. These were all attempts to drag the Frontline States back into South African dependency and under De Facto white Imperial rule; effectively undoing independence

In any case, as brutal as this "Total Strategy" was, it's a far cry from Israel's current approach which more resembles a genocidal temper tantrum. This is even in contrast to earlier Israeli strategies of coming to terms with neighbouring states and collaborationist movements; using Lebanon as an example they've gone from employing Christians Reactionaries as proxies to clumsily provoking the whole nation. There are structural reasons for this of course. South Africa needed it's black majority, both "at home" and in the neighboring states, as a reserve of cheap labour to extract cheap natural resources and buy globally uncompetitive manufactured goods. Indeed, the false independence of the "Bantustan" project was an attempt to remove South African citizenship from their entire black population and legally turn them all into migrant labourers. South Africa also has a much longer history as an independent Settler project, and while they recieved significant amounts of support from The West (especially the USA and doubly so under the more reactionary Presidents i.e. Ronald Reagan) this very much had its limitations; South Africa obviously couldn't wage a regional war of extermination even if wanted to. Meanwhile Israel's policy towards indigenous people is increasingly exterministic and there is no interest in maintaining their population; they even import migrant labourers from as far as Thailand to deny local Arabs. The country has also spent it's an entire existence as more or less a glorified NATO military base; they have more reason to favour a policy of genocidal war while hoping the US saves them from the consequences.

The point is that there are limits to how far you can take comparisons between South Africa and Israel. For all their similarities as Apartheid Settler States, were still different countries that occupied different contexts and so there are considerable socio-political differences between them that shouldn't just be ignored. You can't blandly use South African history to predict the course of Israel, or worse project current events in Israel onto a distorted version of South Africa's past. You won't develop a useful understanding of the world if you stick to broad assumptions and truisms; you need to actually investigate

[lets-steal-an-archive]

Missing 'Notable Graves' webpages

African American History/(archived version)

Hispanic American History/(archived version)

Women’s History/(archived version)

Missing educational materials

"Civil War" (archived version) – 7 educational modules removed.

"Environment at ANC" (archived version) – page renamed and 1 educational module removed.

"Medal of Honor" (archived version) – 1 module removed with three walking tour guides.

"Service Branches" (archived version) – 5 walking tour modules for notables graves of veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

"Women’s History" (archived version) – 7 educational modules removed.

"African-American History" (archived version) – 14 educational modules removed.

[rennyssstufg]

Choso x Reader

Sleepover

Warnings: Smut, Needy!Choso, Dom!Choso, Deep-throating, Clit-sucking

I stood outside Choso's house, clutching a bag packed for our sleepover. We had been friends since we were young, and these sleepovers were a tradition we held on to.

With anticipation bubbling inside me, I knocked on his door.

"Hey! come on in!" Choso greeted me with a warm smile, his brown hair ruffled from excitement. We settled into his room and decided to watch a movie.

Without giving it a second thought, we popped in the first DVD we found.

As we sat side by side, engrossed in the film, we noticed the scenes becoming more intense and graphic. My cheeks flushed, realizing we were watching a porno. I stole a glance at Choso, who seemed surprised but also intensely curious.

"We should turn this off." I nervously suggested. But before I could reach for the remote, he let out a sigh. I turned towards him, concern etched on my face.

"It's just... I don't know... I can't help it," Choso whispered, his voice filled with embarrassment.

I followed his gaze downward and saw the bulge in his pants. A mixture of confusion and understanding washed over me. Taking a deep breath, I made a brave decision.

"I... I can help you with that if you want," I offered softly.

His eyes widened, his surprise evident.

After a moment, he nodded shyly.

"Thank you.. This is embarrassing..." He paused, looking down at his lap. "But I'd like your help, if you are willing."

I move closer to him, gently taking his clothes off, trying my hardest not to tease him.

As I touch him, he looks so stunned, like he had never felt so exposed before. I decide to be gentle and kind with my hands, sliding then down his pants and taking him in my hand.

I start to move my hand up and down, groans escaping his mouth. I slow down, putting him in my mouth and gagging slightly at his length.

I rub with my hand what i cant fit in my mouth but it doesnt seem enough for Choso.

He removes my hands, slamming himself down my throat.

"Sorry baby, I need this." He grunts and groans, getting closer and closer to the edge. zhe flips me under him, throat-fucking me. My gag reflex making this all the more pleasant for him.

"Fuck, you're such a good girl for taking this."

The sounds of our passionate making fill the silent room. And just when I think I can't take it anymore, he cum ms deep in my throat, leaving me gasping for air.

He removes himself from my mouth, watching me swallow.

"Thank you baby." he says, panting. "It's your turn now."

I catch my breath but before I know it, my clothes are off. He's already going for my clit

He leans forward, licking around my pussy lips before diving into them. He sucks hard on my clit, flicking it rapidly with his tongue.

I moan loudly, arching my back. I claw into his back, pushing myself deeper into his mouth. I'm moaning louder than ever before.

He doesn't hold back anymore, taking my clit fully into his mouth and sucking hard. I scream, my hands grabbing onto the sheets.

He moves his mouth up and down, his tongue flicking and tapping at my clit harder and faster. I'm shaking now, my body trembling with every movement he makes.

"Cho- I'm gonna cum-" He goes faster anc harder, making me cum on his tongue.

We lay next to eachother in bed, hugging.

"So... does this make us more than friends?"

Choso asks.

"Of course it does, I like you..."

[blackstarlineage]

The End of Apartheid in South Africa: A Garveyite Perspective on Liberation, Betrayal, and Economic Neo-Colonialism

The end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994 was celebrated as a historic victory for Black liberation, symbolizing the triumph of resistance against one of the most brutal systems of racial oppression. However, from a Garveyite perspective, while political apartheid ended, economic apartheid remained intact, and South Africa’s so-called freedom was compromised by neo-colonialism, Western economic control, and the failure to implement real Black self-determination.

Marcus Garvey’s teachings emphasized that true liberation is not just about removing racist laws, but about complete self-reliance, economic sovereignty, and African control over African resources. This analysis will explore:

How apartheid functioned as a system of white supremacy and economic domination.

The role of the Pan-African and global Black resistance movements in ending apartheid.

Why did the transition to democracy not dismantle white economic power.

How Garveyism offers a blueprint for true Black liberation beyond political independence.

1. Understanding Apartheid as a System of White Economic Control

Apartheid (1948–1994) was not just about racial segregation—it was a system that ensured that white settlers controlled South Africa’s land, economy, and resources, while the Black majority was kept in a state of poverty, dependency, and political subjugation.

A. The Roots of Apartheid in European Colonialism

South Africa was first colonized by the Dutch (1652) and later by the British (1806), who stole African land and exploited indigenous labour.

The discovery of gold (1886) and diamonds (1867) turned South Africa into an economic goldmine for European powers, leading to increased oppression of Black labourers.

The Union of South Africa (1910) legally institutionalized white minority rule, denying Black South Africans any political representation.

Example: The 1913 Natives Land Act restricted Black people to only 7% of South Africa’s land, forcing them into overcrowded reserves while white settlers controlled the most fertile land.

B. The Economic Structure of Apartheid: Black Labor, White Wealth

Apartheid ensured that whites controlled the economy while Black South Africans were exploited as cheap labour.

Black workers were banned from skilled jobs and forced into low-paying labour in mines, farms, and factories owned by whites.

Pass laws required Black South Africans to carry identity documents and restricted their movement, ensuring their role as economic slaves.

Education was designed to keep Black South Africans in a permanent underclass, with Bantu Education ensuring that they would never compete with whites for jobs.

Example: The Chamber of Mines and companies like De Beers built enormous wealth from Black labour, yet paid workers barely enough to survive.

Key Takeaway: Apartheid was not just racism—it was an economic system that ensured white wealth and Black poverty.

2. The Role of Global and Pan-African Resistance in Ending Apartheid

Apartheid did not end because white South Africa had a change of heart—it was dismantled due to decades of Black resistance, Pan-African solidarity, and international pressure.

A. The Internal Resistance: Armed Struggle and Mass Protests

The African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and other liberation movements led armed resistance and mass uprisings.

The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre exposed the brutality of apartheid to the world, leading to intensified anti-apartheid activism.

The 1976 Soweto Uprising, led by Black students protesting against Afrikaans-language education, sparked mass movements demanding an end to apartheid.

Example: The Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, launched guerrilla attacks against the apartheid regime to destabilize white rule.

B. The Role of Pan-Africanism in Supporting South Africa’s Liberation

Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), and other Pan-African leaders provided military training, weapons, and safe havens for South African freedom fighters.

The Organization of African Unity (OAU) and anti-apartheid movements worldwide pressured Western nations to cut ties with South Africa.

Cuba’s military intervention in Angola (1975–1988) helped defeat the apartheid-backed South African army, shifting the balance of power in Southern Africa.

Example: Nelson Mandela received military training in Algeria and Ethiopia, proving that South African liberation was part of a broader Pan-African struggle.

Key Takeaway: Apartheid was not defeated by negotiations alone—it was destroyed by Pan-African unity and decades of Black resistance.

3. The Betrayal of Economic Liberation: The Illusion of Freedom

While apartheid legally ended in 1994, South Africa’s economy remained under white and Western control, proving that political independence without economic liberation is meaningless.

A. The ANC’s Compromise with White Capitalists

Instead of redistributing land and wealth to Black South Africans, the ANC negotiated a deal that left white economic power untouched.

Multinational corporations and white-owned businesses continued to dominate South Africa’s economy.

The land stolen during apartheid was never returned to Black South Africans in any meaningful way.

Example: As of 2024, white South Africans (only 7% of the population) still own over 70% of private farmland, proving that economic apartheid still exists.

B. The Continued Economic Enslavement of Black South Africans

South Africa’s economy is still dominated by white-owned banks, mining companies, and multinational corporations.

Millions of Black South Africans remain in poverty, trapped in low-wage jobs or unemployment.

Foreign debt and reliance on the IMF and World Bank prevent South Africa from pursuing true economic independence.

Example: Despite being “free,” millions of Black South Africans still live in informal settlements with no access to basic services, while white suburbs remain wealthy.

Key Takeaway: Apartheid ended politically, but white economic control remains intact through neo-colonialism and capitalist exploitation.

4. The Garveyite Solution: True Liberation Beyond Political Independence

From a Garveyite perspective, South Africa’s struggle is not over. Real freedom requires:

Complete Land Redistribution – White-owned land must be returned to Black South Africans.

Nationalization of Natural Resources – South Africa’s gold, diamonds, and minerals must be controlled by Africans, not foreign corporations.

Pan-African Economic Unity – South Africa must trade with Africa, not rely on Europe and the U.S.

Black-Owned Banks and Industries – Financial independence is key to breaking the cycle of white economic domination.

Political Leadership that Prioritizes Black Self-Determination – South Africa must reject corrupt politicians who serve white corporate interests.

Example: Thomas Sankara’s Burkina Faso and Julius Nyerere’s Tanzania attempted economic self-reliance—South Africa must follow this model.

Final Takeaway: The struggle against apartheid was only the first step—South Africa will never be free until it controls its land, wealth, and economy.

Conclusion: The Struggle Continues

The end of apartheid was a step forward, but it was not true liberation. South Africa remains economically enslaved to white capital and Western imperialism. The next phase of the struggle must focus on:

Dismantling economic apartheid through land and wealth redistribution.

Rejecting Western neo-colonial control over South Africa’s economy.

Strengthening Pan-African alliances to build economic independence.

As Marcus Garvey warned, political freedom without economic power is a deception. South Africa must finish the revolution—only then will true liberation be achieved.

[sukoshininja]

Blood Gamble

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

"It's not mine."

That's what Lance had said, because it couldn't be. He would know. Wouldn't he?

But judging by the look on Keith's face, he was clearly missing something.

"We need to put pressure on that," Keith said slowly in that carefully enunciated voice, the one he used when he was trying to hide his alarm.

Again, it wasn't his. But he knew better than to interfere when Keith was like this, teetering on the edge of panic. Better to let him see for himself. 

Lance allowed Keith to remove his left rerebrace, which, to Keith's credit, was slick with blood. Keith wrinkled his nose and bit the tip of his glove, pulling it off his hand.

"See? Not mine."

 "Nothing on this planet bleeds red, Lance," Keith reminded him as he forcefully pressed the rubber glove into Lance's tricep. 

Oh yeah.

But if that was true, then why didn't--

Oh. Oh. Okay. Now it hurt. The pain was so sharp it felt cold, spreading ice to his nerves in his fingers. He wiggled them experimentally. Bad idea.

 Keith tapped his helmet, activating his comm, "Red team withdrawing. We need to get Lance to a healing pod. Stat."

"Do you need an extraction?" Allura asked, concerned. 

"No, but he's losing a lot of blood."

"How much blood are we talking?" Hunk asked as Lance's vision started to get fuzzy around the edges

"Tourniquet level," Keith replied as he pulled his hairband out with one hand, the other still holding pressure to the wound. 

His heart was beating so fast that Lance half expected it to explode. He tried to focus on taking big slow breaths, but he found himself gasping for air when it seemed like he couldn't get the air in fast enough. Oh no, he was hyperventilating. That couldn't be good. 

"Hold this," Keith instructed as he folded the band in half and wrapped it around Lance's arm, pulling the elastic tight.

The pressure on his brachial artery was not a welcome sensation, he realized as he felt his hyperactive pulse push against the elastic band. Nausea rolled in his stomach.

Keith snapped his fingers in front of Lance's nose. Lance tried to focus on the eyes looking back at him with intensity. "I'm gonna need you to keep pressure on this, as much as you can."

Lance nodded, the pain making him feel so weak he was numb, like his extremities were slowly disappearing. It wouldn't be long before he was weightless. 

Keith hoisted him in a fire's carry before bolting for Red.

Lance was barely aware as his cheek lay against the cockpit floor. It was cool. And he was the coldest he had ever been. 

Fog pressed up against him, clouding his awareness. 

-nce

What was that?

-ance!

The sound dipped in and out, gently, like a lullaby. 

Lance! What's your blood type?

And everything was quiet. 

*   *   *

There was a pressure in his head. A pounding. Wait. That's what sounds were. Those were sounds. Funny. He couldn't understand them. Not yet. It was like they were all meshing together in one big blob that echoed through his head like a gong.

It was dark too. Oh. His eyes were closed. He should open them. Nope. Too hard. He could wait. Something was off, and he wasn't terribly eager to find out what. 

When Lance came to, he was on his knees.

He slowly opened his eyes. The light burned. He squeezed them shut again.

"How are you feeling, Lance?" a booming voice asked and Lance flinched. 

"I--" words felt weird in his mouth. And was that supposed to be his voice all frail and scratchy? "I'm alive, I-I think."

"You had us for a while there," the voice continued. Lance recognized it as Shiro. 

"Can't keep me down!" Lance replied weakly. Sensations were gradually beginning to return. None of them were pleasant. 

He tried opening his eyes again. Still too bright. 

"You saw that, right?" Pidge asked, alarmed. 

Shiro made a corrective noise. "Let's focus on getting him stable before getting side-tracked. Lance, can you stand?" 

Lance tried, but it was like his muscles couldn't be bothered. "I don’t think so."

"It's okay. I'm going to carry you, alright?"

Lance nodded. As Shiro lifted him, he attempted to open his eyes once again, but this time only by a hair. It was still too bright, but it was bearable, and he could roughly make out the figures around him. They were in the medical bay. He must have just exited the pod. 

"Should I wake him?" Pidge asked, gesturing at a makeshift cot.

"Let's wait until Lance gets settled," Shiro advised. He gently carried Lance, bridal style, to his room. 

Pidge pulled back the sheets and Shiro gently placed him down on the mattress. They fussed at him, arranging his limbs, fluffing pillows and tucking him in. Shiro adjusted the weird cape thing that draped from Lance's shoulders. It reminded him of that thing barbers snapped around your neck when getting a haircut. 

 "What's this?" 

It did not escape him how they both stiffened. 

"We’re gonna wait until you are a little more sober," Shiro said carefully. "You'll get to see it soon, after you heal a little more."

That bad?

"Chicks dig scars," Lance made it sound as flippant as he could. 

Shiro regarded him with a calm mask. "Do you need anything? Water, more pain killers?"

"Can you turn the lights down? They really hurt."

Shiro adjusted the dimmer until the lights faded to a soft glow.

Everything came into sharp focus as he was able to open his eyes fully. His vision was still a little off, though.

Pidge was looking at him intently, almost as if she was studying him.

"How long was I out?"

"Long enough to have us all worried," Shiro answered. "I'll let the others know you're awake. I'm sure they'll want to see you, but it's okay if you're not up for company just yet."

"I can say hi," Lance offered.

Shiro nodded and stepped out of the room, the door sliding shut behind him. 

Pidge was still squinting at him. He was not about to apologize for the low light. She looked pale, like all the color had gone out of her. 

"Why do you look...less?" 

"You're standing in the presence of a universal donor, you greedy bastard," she announced proudly, striking a hero pose.

That couldn't be right. She was much too small. She definitely didn't hit the weight limit to safely donate. "I thought you had to wait at least another year to give blood?"

"If I waited, you'd be dead."

Oh.

"You're welcome."

"I don't know how to thank you," Lance said quietly. He owed her his life, that was a debt he would never be able to repay.

"Don't. Anyone would have done the same."

The door slid open and Keith strode in, out of breath and hair a mess.

"How was your nap?" Pidge asked. 

"I brought the pain drugs. Is he sleeping? Why is it so dar--" Keith made eye contact with Lance and froze. 

"Shit," he whispered.

"Keith!" Shiro called from down the hall, he appeared in the doorway a moment later. "I told you to wait."

But Keith wasn't paying attention. His eyes locked on Lance, lower lip trembling. Suddenly he turned on his heel and all but ran out of the room. 

"SHIT!" Lance could hear him scream into the hall.

Not exactly the reunion he expected. 

Shiro heaved a tired sigh, "I'll be back."

*  *  *

It had been days, and Lance was getting antsy. 

"Is it really that bad?" he asked Allura when she brought him breakfast one morning. 

"Is what bad?" 

"My face."

There was a reason all the mirrors were covered, that Shiro had tried to stop Keith from barging in, that when the others come to see him they wore curated expressions.

"Still got your looks, if that's what you're concerned about," Allura laughed, mussing his hair affectionately.

Lance tried to lean into and enjoy the rare casual touch Allura graced him with. But the feeling that they were hiding something from him wouldn’t leave him alone. 

"Keith took one glance and bolted," Lance challenged. He hadn't been back either. That bothered him more than he cared to admit. 

She smiled softly. "I believe he feels at fault for what happened to you."

Lance's memory was pretty hazy at best, but he seemed to remember Keith saving him. "What are you not telling me?" 

Allura hummed thoughtfully. 

"I'm going to find Shiro." She raised a hand at Lance's protests. "He can explain it better than I can. I'm afraid I don't quite understand how you earthlings work. He wanted to be the one to tell you anyways."

"You're scaring me."

“It’s been a very scary time for all of us,” she agreed as she slipped out the door.

When Shiro walked in a few moments later his mouth was set at a grim angle. "Hey, champ. How are you feeling?"

Lance shrugged. "Arm hurts. I'm stuck in this room because you won't let me out of bed. And everybody is hiding something from me."

That came out a lot harsher than he had meant it. But he was frustrated. 

Shiro nodded somberly as he took a seat on the bed, facing him. "We should have had this talk earlier, I'm sorry. We wanted to give you a chance to get your strength back a little first. I understand your frustration, but I still stand by that decision."

Shiro placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think you know this, but we came so close to losing you. There was a stretch where we didn't think you would make it. "

"Hunk said Pidge nearly killed herself to save me."

"She gave more than she should have,” Shiro confirmed. “However, you needed more than she had to give. When it became clear she would bleed herself dry for you, we had to make a choice. Losing both of you was not an option."

Hunk had conveniently left out that bit. 

"But neither was losing either of you. So, as your senior officer, I made a decision. A decision that should have been yours. But in the moment I was so scared of losing you that I didn't care. I am sorry I took away your choice. But understand that I do not regret my actions. The important thing is that you're still here, the rest is details."

Shiro looked down at his mechanical hand. Flexing his metallic palm open and closed a couple times. He reached behind Lance to undo his cape. As it fell off his shoulders, Lance braced himself for what he expected to be a nasty scar.

Only there was no scar.

Because there was no arm.

“There was no saving it,” Shiro whispered after a moment. “I’m so sorry.”

Lance could feel his heart rate quicken as his breaths became shallower. He lost his arm. They cut off his arm! How was he supposed to shoot?How was he supposed to pilot his lion? He couldn’t be a paladin anymore. He couldn’t even return to his life before, not with one arm.

“When you’re further along in the healing process, we’ll get you outfitted with a prosthetic,” Shiro continued. “Coran claims my Galra tech is too clunky and that Altean tech is much better suited for prosthetics.”

Oh yeah. Shiro had lost his arm as well. He seemed to be doing just fine. Alien technology for the win. When he dreamed of following in Shiro’s footsteps, this isn’t quite what he imagined.

He forced a smile that he didn’t feel. “We’re twins.”

“Now back to that choice I made.”

Lance felt his stomach drop. There was more?

"As I said, Pidge alone couldn’t save you. But she wasn't the only one aboard with an O negative blood type. But given that Keith’s not all human we didn’t know how your body would tolerate this blood. But when it became clear that you need more, what choice did I have? Watch you die? Or pump you full of alien blood and watch that possibly kill you faster? Or possibly live? At least you had a chance. So I gave the order. I didn’t even ask him.”

Was that why Keith couldn’t stand him? Because he stole his blood?

Shiro sucked in a big breath before slowly letting it go. “It saved your life, but there were…side effects.”

“Side effects?”

Shiro handed him a pocket mirror.

He caught a flash of yellow, glowing, pupil-less eyes from a familiar face.

“He turned me into a quiznacking Galra!”

Next Part -> my whumptober masterlist

[iapislazuli]

If you’re a website developer anc you remove a feature that was by default part of the website and then later bring it back but behind a paywall I’m going to kill you and hurt you and make you die and feel pain and end your life and send you to hell and make you explode fuck you die die die kill yourself

[beardedmrbean]

US President Donald Trump has said he will cut all future funding to South Africa over allegations that it was confiscating land and "treating certain classes of people very badly".

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill that allows land seizures without compensation in certain circumstances.

Land ownership has long been a contentious issue in South Africa with most private farmland owned by white people, 30 years after the end of the racist system of apartheid.

There have been continuous calls for the government to address land reform and deal with the past injustices of racial segregation.

South Africa's president responded to Trump with a post on X: "South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land."

He added that the only funding South Africa received from the US was through the health initiative Pepfar, which represented "17% of South Africa's HIV/Aids programme".

The US allocated about $440m (£358m) in assistance to South Africa in 2023, according to US government data.

Elon Musk, who was born and grew up in South Africa and is now a Trump adviser, has also joined in the debate, saying the new law discriminated against white people.

"Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?" Mr Musk said to Ramaphosa in a post on X.

South Africans' anger over land set to explode

On Sunday, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social: "I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!"

He later said, in a briefing with journalists, that South Africa's "leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things".

"So that's under investigation right now. We'll make a determination, and until such time as we find out what South Africa is doing — they're taking away land and confiscating land, and actually they're doing things that are perhaps far worse than that."

South Africa's new law allows for expropriation without compensation only in circumstances where it is "just and equitable and in the public interest" to do so.

This includes if the property is not being used and there is no intention to either develop or make money from it, or when it poses a risk to people.

Land ownership has long been a contentious issue in South Africa for more than a century. In 1913, the British colonial authorities passed legislation that restricted the property rights of the country's black majority.

The Natives Land Act left the vast majority of the land under the control of the white minority and set the foundation for the forced removal of black people to poor homelands and townships in the intervening decades until the end of apartheid three decades ago.

Anger over these forced removals intensified the fight against white-minority rule.

In 1994, leader of the African National Congress (ANC) Nelson Mandela became the country's first democratically elected president after all South Africans were given the right to vote.

But until the recently passed law, the government was only able to buy land from its current owners under the principle of "willing seller, willing buyer", which some feel has delayed the process of land reform.

In 2017, a government report said that of the farmland that was in the hands of private individuals, 72% was white-owned. According to the 2022 census white people make up 7.3% of the population.

However, some critics have expressed fears that the new land law may have disastrous consequences like in Zimbabwe, where seizures wrecked the economy and scared away investors.

South African Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe responded to Trump's comments by telling a mining conference that the country should withhold its minerals if "they [US] don't give us money".

South Africa exports a variety of minerals to the US, including platinum, iron and manganese.

AfriForum, a group focused on protecting the rights and interests of South Africa's white Afrikaner population, wants the government to change the new law to "ensure the protection of property rights".

However, it said it did not agree with Trump's threat to cut funding, suggesting that any punitive measures should be directed at "senior ANC leaders" and not South Africans.

The ANC, led by Ramaphosa, currently governs South Africa as part of a coalition government with nine smaller parties.

Trump also hit out at South Africa during his first term as US president, asking the-then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to study the country's "farm seizures and expropriations and the large-scale killing of farmers".

At that time, South Africa accused Trump of seeking to sow division, with a spokesperson saying he was "misinformed".

[theharellan]

meta @ me about Solas finding community 😌

send me a meta topic | accepting | @weptfreedom

Note to readers: while I begin this meta in canon it veers into canon divergence because it is about my Solas and not canon Solas.

"I regret!" he yelled, as loud as he could. The demon froze, its dragon-canine ears twitching. It was split seven ways, trying to still all these mortals at once. It was frustrated, frenzied. But Sutherland's call was like a beacon. "I regret acting alone!" yelled Sutherland. Regret turned to face the young warrior, its many eyes shifting around in its head, centering on him. The one it couldn't touch! It could kill them all in turn, but this new sensation was so tempting, and so familiar! It was as if Sutherland was echoing the regret that had drawn it to Skyhold in the first place. Its arms grew more talons. "I regret using my friends!" yelled Sutherland.

Lukas Kristjanson, "The Callback," Tevinter Nights. (Emphasis mine).

Before DA4's release, when I heard that regret was going to be a central theme of Veilguard, my brain naturally returned to this short story. The regret that twisted Introspection into what it was in this story were linked to Solas's loneliness. The elf who fears dying alone, not in the sense that he will die by himself, but die unknown. The person he was forgotten by time and titles.

Veilguard was certainly a game that knew the value of allies and community, but I felt in regards to Solas, his status as villain and a character they had to remove from the narrative in case of a DA5, it was an unrealised theme for him. In all endings, he is without community save one we imagine for ourselves, and entirely alone excepting (potentially) Lavellan. One of the very things "The Callback" has him regretting (acting alone) is still in some ways his fate.

And it just hit me as sad, as a tragedy, but not a cathartic one.

Looking back, Solas is a person who has been deprived community from his physical birth. Compelled to take form against his own desires (not that Mythal bound him, but she did not care that he said no at first), he is at odds with his own body. That kind of disassociation fosters disconnect between you and other people, and what community Solas found in Elvhenan was shattered again when he rebelled, and then again when he created the Veil.

And in the in between those times, he was a soldier, a general, a hero. In writings, Felassan tells him it is necessary he be Fen'Harel, so the people know someone can keep them safe. And he was right (even if Solas couldn't keep them safe), but it doesn't erase the fact that being Fen'Harel would have created barriers between himself and the people around him the same as being Inquisitor alienates them.

Inquisition is the first time in a long time Solas has a community. There are barriers, he is an elf and an apostate in a world that is hostile to both, but he finds friendship and companionship. Solas himself says so in Veilguard.

And again, he destroys it.

It is here where I change the narrative. Or, perhaps, where Ian changes the narrative. Ian, who is also without community. Who is a Dalish elf, but not; a city elf, but not; a circle elf, but not. He endears himself well to others, but as an apostate has never stayed in one place overlong. It is Ian's nowhere man situation that attracts Solas to his company, two lonely people isolated from communities finding respite in one another.

Solas tries to destroy it, too, but Ian doesn't allow him.

By forcing himself into Solas's company when he is most trying to isolate himself, Ian introduces community into Solas's life. Because the one thing holding Ian back (being an apostate) no longer matters. Agents he might have otherwise been isolated from, only communicating through his spymaster (Miraen), Solas now knows. The Lighthouse finds its life again.

One thing I seek to emphasise through my writing of Agents of Fen'Harel is the community the elves who make it up find. Through conversations with ancient elves, Bruno finds his true self and name as a trans man. Through Bruno, Miraen finds someone who loves and is loyal to them, accepts them as their own flawed society couldn't. Through spirits, elves understand their souls. Through physical elves, spirits understand their nature. As humans we long to understand ourselves through our ancestors, and the existence of ancient elves in lore was such a touching way to make that metaphor real that it is a big reason I am sad they were cut from Veilguard.

The above is getting away from Solas and community a little, but it is important to why he eventually finds it- but also he doesn't quite realise it even as, in Ian's changed narrative, he lays the foundations for what grows into one post-Veilguard. The reason why I think he falls a little short of finding it is because of the Veil.

The Veil can, and does, represent a dozen things to me; everything from climate change to forced binaries, systemic oppression. For the purposes of this ask, it represents the lines that divide community. Spirits (who, notably, Solas was one of) are divided from the physical world by the Veil. Excepting places like Nevarra and Rivain, where even there they must explicitly be channeled through the conduit of mages. All other free interactions in the physical world are small twists of fate, and often rooted in tragedy (see: Cole).

The sad state of spirits in Thedas is a big reason why I felt the Veil needed to come down, albeit not by Solas's hand in any ideal ending. I do not feel any equitable community, or even one striving to be equitable, could exist so long as it does. A people who should have free and easy interaction with the world risk destroying themselves by physically manifesting, when before they could sit in conversation and discuss the nature of the world.

Veilguard disagrees with my perspective, feeling there is no way to remove the Veil without ruinous destruction and that's their prerogative, but it is my game now, so:

The Veil falls. Not as Solas planned, his own shortcomings blinding him to better ways. Again, Ian changes the narrative, albeit not without help in the "true canon" of this blog (thank you, Thora Cadash).

It falls through the workings of many hands that care about the world and care about Solas. It falls, and it is not the end. I have seen people compare those of us who felt the Veil should have fallen to having "rapture" beliefs, and I think it is ignoring the perspective that for many of us the Veil falling would not have been an end or a reason to lay down our worries. Done right, it is another step on the path of healing.

In the aftermath, Solas does not simply lay the foundations of community for others, as he did in Elvhenan and to some extent the rebellion, but he starts to become part of it.

Not just with elves and spirits, but dwarves, as well. Through Thora's work trying to soothe the Titans, relations with the dwarven community she has started to build in Cadash Thaig (where his and her people found community Kal-Sharok destroyed) begin anew. Arlathan as he knew it is gone forever, but the Dalish and the community that once served him now serve each other in a place that echoes the meaning of the city's name: this place of love. And he is allowed to help, to return to someone who gives wisdom before orders.

One cannot find atonement in isolation, one cannot right the wrongs Solas has done against the world by acting alone. There is no perfect absolution for him, there can never be with so many dead, but with community he can find person-to-person forgiveness that will grant him peace and make his greatest fear be forgotten.

Let the past guide you to a new direction. And be well.

Lukas Kristjanson, "The Callback," Tevinter Nights.

[rocket-enjoyer]

The JMR's new tanker is here.

The T-1500 Jötunn from the Dreadnought Logistics Design Bureau is the winning design of the New Rugged Tanker program.

It has 6 huge removable propellant tanks built to handle anything from cryogens to hypergols. They are interchangeable with those of our Strategic Propellant Depots allowing quick and easy propellant transfers.

The T-1500 also has two compartments for transferring people or solid cargo. Artificial gravity is generated by spinning along the middle wire.

Its engine section at the back is powered by nuclear thermal rockets able to be used with many different kinds of propellant allowing more flexibility for mission planning.

The Jötunn's computers are several linked BNC-900s, each handling its own duties over the spacecraft's systems. Less complicated computers are easier to manufacture, train and maintain and though it lowers the spacecraft's ability to recover from failures on its own compared to an ANC, it is still more than capable of most autonomous operations.

The T-1500 Jötunn will be available for export in half of a Jupiter year.

[adamrosner]

Exploring Special Diets: Gluten-Free, Keto, and Other Healthy Eating Plans

As awareness of health and wellness grows, more people are turning to special diets to meet specific health needs, manage conditions, or pursue better lifestyle choices. Popular dietary plans like gluten-free, keto, and other specialized diets are not just trends—they represent meaningful ways to optimize nutrition and address medical concerns. However, cooking for these diets can feel complex, especially for those unfamiliar with the requirements. This article will explore the essentials of cooking for special diets, the benefits of each, and how to create delicious, healthy meals that adhere to these unique dietary guidelines.

The Gluten-Free Diet: Essential for Some, Beneficial for Many

Adhering to a gluten-free diet is essential for the health and well-being of individuals with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or wheat allergies. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which consuming gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—triggers an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine. Even those without celiac disease but with gluten sensitivity may experience bloating, fatigue, and digestive discomfort when consuming gluten.

Cooking gluten-free meals involves more than just removing gluten from the diet; it requires careful substitutions to maintain taste, texture, and nutrition. Luckily, gluten-free alternatives have become more widely available, including products like gluten-free bread, pasta, and flours made from rice, almonds, or coconut.

A simple way to begin gluten-free cooking is by focusing on naturally gluten-free foods, such as vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, and dairy. For example, grilled chicken with roasted vegetables and quinoa is a naturally gluten-free meal. When baking, gluten-free flour like almond or rice flour can replace traditional wheat flour. However, these flours may require adjustments to liquid ratios in recipes since they behave differently than wheat flour.

Using naturally gluten-free grains such as quinoa, buckwheat, or millet also ensures that you can create satisfying, hearty meals without compromising taste. A significant consideration for gluten-free cooking is preventing cross-contamination, especially in kitchens where gluten-containing foods are also prepared.

The Keto Diet: High-Fat, Low-Carb for Energy and Weight Loss

The ketogenic (keto) diet focuses on high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate intake, designed to force the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns fat for energy rather than carbohydrates, leading to fat loss and, for many, better overall health markers. Originally developed to treat epilepsy, the keto diet has become a popular choice for weight loss and managing conditions like type 2 diabetes.

The cornerstone of the keto diet is limiting carbs—usually to under 50 grams per day—while consuming plenty of healthy fats like avocado, nuts, seeds, and oils. Protein intake comes from sources like fatty fish, eggs, and meats, and vegetables are chosen from low-carb options such as leafy greens, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Cooking for the keto diet involves finding replacements for traditionally carb-heavy foods, such as bread, pasta, and potatoes. Cauliflower rice, zoodles (zucchini noodles), and lettuce wraps are great low-carb swaps that still provide volume and flavor to meals. For example, a stir-fry made with chicken, cauliflower rice, and low-carb vegetables offers a satisfying, keto-friendly alternative to a typical rice-based dish.

One critical challenge with keto cooking is creating sweet treats without traditional sugars. Fortunately, keto-friendly sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol allow for the creation of low-carb desserts such as cheesecake, fat bombs, or keto-friendly chocolate treats.

Paleo Diet: Back to Basics with Whole Foods

The paleo diet, inspired by the eating habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, promotes consuming whole, unprocessed foods while avoiding grains, dairy, and refined sugars. The idea behind this diet is that our bodies are better adapted to the foods available to early humans, and modern processed foods contribute to various health issues, including inflammation, obesity, and chronic diseases.

Paleo cooking focuses on whole foods like meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Processed foods, legumes, grains, and dairy are eliminated, making the paleo diet rich in nutrients while also helping reduce the intake of inflammatory ingredients. Cooking paleo meals involves using alternative ingredients such as almond flour, coconut flour, and sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.

For example, a paleo breakfast might consist of scrambled eggs with spinach and avocado, while a dinner could include grilled salmon with roasted sweet potatoes and a side salad. Paleo baking involves using grain-free flour, such as almond or coconut flour, to create treats like muffins, pancakes, or bread.

Vegan and Plant-Based Diets: Focusing on Plants for Health and Sustainability

Vegan and plant-based diets focus on whole, plant-derived foods. Veganism excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs. A plant-based diet is more flexible, allowing some animal products but still prioritizing plant foods. These diets are praised for their potential health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, and their positive environmental impact.

Cooking vegan or plant-based meals requires creativity to replace animal proteins with plant-based alternatives. Staples include legumes (such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas), tofu, tempeh, and whole grains. Nuts, seeds, and oils provide healthy fats, while leafy greens, fruits, and a variety of vegetables ensure a balanced nutrient intake.

One challenge in vegan cooking is ensuring adequate intake of nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, and protein, which are typically found in animal products. Fortified plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, and a wide variety of legumes and grains can help meet these nutritional needs.

Vegan baking often uses flaxseed or chia seed as egg replacements, while aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) can mimic egg whites in recipes. Desserts can be made using ingredients like almond milk, coconut oil, and natural sweeteners to create indulgent treats like vegan brownies or ice cream.

Tips for Cooking Special Diets

Ingredient Substitutions: Finding creative substitutes for restricted ingredients is critical. Almond flour and coconut flour are versatile replacements for wheat flour, and cauliflower can replace rice or potatoes in many dishes.

Meal Prep: Planning and preparing meals ahead of time ensures that healthy, diet-compliant meals are always available. Batch cooking and freezing meals can make adhering to a particular diet more manageable.

Experimenting with Recipes: Don’t be afraid to try new recipes or modify existing ones to fit your dietary needs. Many classic dishes can be adapted using alternative ingredients, ensuring you don’t feel deprived.

Cooking for special diets—whether gluten-free, keto, paleo, or plant-based—may seem challenging at first, but with the right approach, it becomes a rewarding and sustainable way to eat. These diets offer numerous benefits, from managing medical conditions to promoting overall wellness, and with the abundance of available alternatives and resources, following them has never been easier. By embracing dietary changes and finding joy in experimenting with new ingredients, anyone can cook healthy, delicious meals tailored to their unique needs.

[lampmanliveblogs]

WHAAAAATT!?!?!

HARPY LILITH!???

HARPY LILITH!?

HARPY LILITH!!!

Harpy Lilith.

The gang flies past Hexside wehre we see some familiar faces.

Skara is playing music for some kids. I bet she’s playing ”Vi äro musikanter alltifrån Skaraborg…”

We see Barcus coaching astudent who looks like they might’ve tried to combine plant and potion magic with… not great results. It looks like Barcus might be a teacher?

Bump is tending to some flowers, it looks like he might’ve retired and let the illusion teacher take over as the new principal. Good for him.

We transition over to Alador trying out a device to remove coven sigils. Darius, Raine and Eberwolf are there, as is Jerbo, looking like he became a healer during the timeskip. Powering the device is Viney, Emira, an unnamed hexside student, and an older witch.

Actually… that older healer might be the same one we saw during the flashback in Keeping Up A -fear-ances.

And… is the guy getting the sigil removed the one we saw get a sigil during Covention? He looks familiar.

[her-gracious-lady-herald-bits1]

Prompt: Enlightened

Words: around one thousand

---

The blade catches candlelight. Leliana’s grip is steady, her motion precise—nothing wasted. Another strike, another necessary loss. She steps forward, her breath calm, measured, as if the weight of the moment hasn’t settled into her chest like stone.

Natalie kneels before her, head bowed, hands folded in quiet prayer. There’s no trembling, no resistance. Only stillness. Acceptance. Leliana’s stomach twists faintly, but she buries the feeling. It isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last.

"I understand," Natalie whispers, her voice steady, unshaken. "If this is the price of faith, so be it."

Leliana’s hand falters, just slightly. Natalie’s voice cuts too close, too deep, like Justinia’s used to. For a brief moment, Leliana sees her friend—not a traitor, not a piece on the board, but the woman who once brought her tea late at night, whose prayers filled the silence of darkened chantries.

The Left Hand doesn’t hesitate.

It is instinct, not mercy, that steels Leliana’s resolve. Her blade rises.

Disruption.

Evelyn moves, swift and deliberate, and the anchor flares in her palm. Green light floods the room, its jagged glow casting saints’ faces into distorted grotesques. Leliana feels the warmth of Evelyn’s blood against her fingers before she registers the grip closing around her blade.

Templar training. The stance, the precision. Leliana files it away without thinking, cataloging details even as her mind protests.

"Bold," she says, her tone clipped and cold. Her eyes flicker to Evelyn’s face—calm, deliberate, save for the anchor’s violent flare betraying her anger. "Though hardly subtle."

"Not everything needs to be subtle." Evelyn leans in, her voice low. Blood drips from her hand, pooling on the stone between them. "Sometimes, a direct approach is what gets the point across."

Leliana studies her, unflinching. Evelyn’s hand shakes faintly, from pain or fury, but her voice holds steady. "And what approach is this?" Leliana tilts her head, watching her like a predator observing prey. "Martyrdom? Desperation? It doesn’t suit you."

"No games. No martyrdom." Evelyn’s grip tightens, and the blade presses deeper into her hand. The anchor flares again, its light burning harsh and unnatural. "You want to punish betrayal? Then start with me."

For a moment, Leliana considers it. The move would be clean, efficient. It would silence Evelyn’s defiance and remove Natalie’s treachery in one act. The Left Hand strikes without hesitation. That is the rule.

And yet, Evelyn’s words linger. "Start with me."

Leliana studies her position carefully, the way she might study a battlefield. She sees the trap Evelyn is laying, reads the desperation in her voice. It doesn’t stop the doubt from creeping in, soft and insidious.

"Your past sins are irrelevant," Leliana says, her voice sharpening.

"Are they?" Evelyn’s voice rises, raw and biting. "I enforced Meredith’s edicts. I dragged mages to their fates, watched the light leave their eyes when the Rite was done. I told myself it was order—but it was fear. Natalie believes in something. What did I believe in? What did I do?"

The question cuts through the air like a blade, sharp and merciless. Blood drips steadily now, dark against the stone, and the anchor flares with each pulse of Evelyn’s words. The light crawls over Natalie’s face, painting her serene expression in jagged green.

"Leliana." Natalie’s voice is soft, almost chiding, like a friend calling her back from the brink. "I’ve made my peace. Do what you must."

Leliana’s chest tightens. Natalie’s calm acceptance, her unwavering faith—it twists like a knife. The Left Hand doesn’t falter, but the woman Leliana used to be does.

(Justinia would understand. The Left Hand strikes; the Right Hand soothes.

The choice has always been yours.)

Evelyn steps closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "What do you see, Leliana? Someone playing a game? Or something real?"

The anchor’s glow sharpens, casting twisted shadows across the walls.

Leliana doesn’t look at Evelyn, doesn’t look at Natalie. She looks at the saints above, their faces warped and inhuman. For a moment, she sees herself reflected there, fractured and hollow.

"I see—" Leliana falters, her voice catching.

Natalie’s faith. Evelyn’s defiance. Her own doubts.

The blade falls from Leliana’s fingers, clattering loudly against the stone.

"Go," she says finally, her voice steady but softer than before. "Tell your Grand Cleric what mercy looks like."

Natalie’s eyes widen faintly, but she bows her head. "Thank you." Her voice is quiet, full of meaning Leliana can’t bear to unpack. She rises and disappears into the shadows beyond the chantry doors, her steps echoing faintly.

Silence follows, heavy and suffocating. Leliana looks down at Evelyn, whose bloodied hand still hovers where the blade had been.

"You need that hand," Leliana says after a moment, her tone regaining its usual edge.

"Worth it. Evelyn’s faint smile is exhausted, but resolute. "It needed to be done."

"Perhaps." Leliana binds the wound with brisk efficiency, her fingers steady even as her thoughts aren’t. "But next time, spare me the blood.""

"Would you have listened?"

Leliana’s fingers falter briefly before resuming their work. She doesn’t look up as she answers, her voice softer, almost uncertain. "I… don’t know." The admission feels foreign on her tongue, like a wound left unguarded.

She rises, her gaze sweeping the empty chantry. The anchor’s glow has faded now, dim and warm—steady, like Evelyn’s heartbeat.

As they step into the cold night air, Leliana glances at Evelyn. Some pieces, she thinks, refuse to play the roles assigned to them.

And sometimes, that’s how the board changes entirely.

---

[homonationalist]

We are now confronted with the task of assisting our sisters and brothers in Palestine as they battle against Israeli apartheid today. Their struggles have many similarities with those against South African apartheid, one of the most salient being the ideological condemnation of their freedom efforts under the rubric of terrorism. I understand that there is evidence indicating historical collaboration between the CIA and the South African apartheid government—in fact, it appears that it was a CIA agent who gave SA authorities the location of Nelson Mandela’s whereabouts in 1962, leading directly to his capture and imprisonment. Moreover, it was not until the year 2008—only five years ago—that Mandela’s name was taken off the terrorist watch list, when George W. Bush signed a bill that finally removed him and other members of the ANC from the list. In other words when Mandela visited the US after his release in 1990, and when he later visited as South Africa’s president, he was still on the terrorist list and the requirement that he be banned from the US had to be expressly waived. The point I am making is that for a very long time, Mandela and his comrades shared the same status as numerous Palestinian leaders and activists today and that just as the US explicitly collaborated with the SA apartheid government, it continues to support the Israeli occupation of Palestine, currently in the form of over $8.5 million a day in military aid.

Angela Davis from "On Palestine, G4S, and the Prison-Industrial Complex" in Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement (2016)

[mariacallous]

For the first time since the end of apartheid in South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party is poised to lose its governing majority. While corruption and poverty are often cited for the setback the ANC is expected to face in elections later this month, its electoral fate is also closely tied to its performance on land issues.

Despite the fact that the country has urbanized and its economy no longer revolves around land, delivering land to Black South Africans remains a yardstick against which ANC performance is measured. Land has deep symbolic meaning as an acute material loss before and during the apartheid era and as hope for a more inclusive and just future. As Nelson Mandela put it in 1995, “With freedom and democracy, came restoration of the right to land. And with it the opportunity to address the effects of centuries of dispossession and denial.”

When apartheid rule crumbled in 1994, a small white minority held most of the farmland in the country, while 13 million Blacks, most of whose ancestors had suffered forced removals from their land, were packed into rural settlements at the fringes of the economy that the apartheid regime cynically labeled “homelands.”

That marginalization fueled inequality and deep resentment. Blacks were far removed from the centers of political and economic power, and the lands they were removed to were overcrowded and of poor quality. The incoming ANC vowed to return people to the land that had belonged to them.

The ANC initially promised to reallocate 30 percent of the country’s agricultural land, amounting to about 60 million acres, to redress racially based land dispossession that occurred following the 1913 Natives Land Act. It aimed to fulfill its promise with a land restitution program and a separate land reform program. The land restitution program sought to restore land rights to people who were forcibly removed from their land under racially discriminatory apartheid-era laws and practices.

Victims of land dispossession had to file a restitution claim with the state by the end of 1998 to be eligible to have their land returned or to have access to an alternative remedy. The land reform program entailed the distribution of land to nonwhites as part of reconciliation and reparations that would go beyond specific restitution claims. The goal, essentially, was to transfer land held overwhelmingly by wealthy white landowners to Black farmers.

It is no coincidence that the party retains staunch support in places where it has successfully delivered on its promises. I recently spent time at the site of one of these successes in the country’s northeastern Mpumalanga region. One of the biggest projects of land restitution in the country’s history took place under the Greater Tenbosch claim in Mpumalanga’s Nkomazi municipality.

In the late 2000s, the government transferred over 150,000 acres of land to seven Black communities in Nkomazi, comprising about 20,000 beneficiaries. Much of that land was planted in sugar cane, which required attentive management, capital, and expertise.

The government purchased the land from TSB, now part of RCL Foods, and handed it over to the communities. Several of them, in turn, formed joint partnerships with TSB, leasing the land back out to the company while participating in management and training a new generation of community-based leaders.

It has become a model for partnerships between business and communities that has been replicated in other valuable areas of agricultural production in the country. “It’s so challenging,” one Black farm manager told me, “but it’s so exciting, to work in that place knowing that you are giving something back to the community that raised you.”

Today, Nkomazi remains a bastion of ANC support. The party’s vote share reached an apex of 95 percent in 2009 with the Greater Tenbosch claim settlement, and in the last national elections in 2019 it still towered over its opponents in the district with 83 percent of the vote. Everyone I talked to in the land restitution communities remains supportive of the ANC given its transformational role in the country and could not imagine turning over power to another party.

The ANC reclaimed the Giba community’s ancestral land from white farmers in Mpumalanga province in the early 2000s and turned what was then a productive farm growing bananas, lychees, and macadamia nuts over to the community. It returned to revitalize and invest in the farm in the early 2010s, and it now grows high-value crops while employing women and running a program to train young people in farming.

The Giba Communal Property Association secretary, reflecting on the success of the project, reported, “As land reform beneficiaries, we have been able to establish partnerships that have enabled us to make this land profitable.” As with Nkomazi, election returns dating back to the 2000s show that the local municipality where the Giba community is located strongly turns out for the ANC.

But the ANC has notched more land reform failures than wins, and these failures are hurting it. Broader progress in both the land restitution and land reform programs has hit a thicket of snags. While the government has transferred about 14 million hectares (34 million acres) to Black farmers since the end of apartheid—excluding private purchases, restoring rights through compensation, or land acquisition for non-farm use—this is only about half of the ANC’s initial promise of 60 million acres. The government has pushed back the deadline to finish land transfers several times, and its new goal is to complete the process by 2030. Even that seems impossible at the current pace.

The land restitution claim deadline of 1998 was far too little time for many of the dispossessed to organize and present solid legal claims for restitution. Applying restitution is messy and entails grappling with what are often poorly documented histories and addressing inevitable conflicts between claimants on the same land. The government tried to reopen the claims process in 2014 to the many people who had previously been left out. But the Constitutional Court blocked that move, arguing in part that the government had to clear the remaining nearly 7,000 unresolved claims first. These are especially complex claims, often involving whole communities, and most remain stuck today.

The failure to finish the land returns it had promised decades ago has made the ANC vulnerable to political competitors on both its left and its right. The radical left, gathered most effectively by the Economic Freedom Fighters party, has criticized the ANC as slow, overly bureaucratic, and too accommodating to markets and white business interests.

It is pushing for rapid land returns and wants to accomplish its goal by dropping compensation for expropriated landowners. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance, a centrist party that gathers its core support from South Africa’s white minority population, advocates for a land reform process that focuses on business development and food security. It has repeatedly charged the ANC with ineptitude and corruption on land issues.

The financial difficulties and implementation problems in both the land restitution and land reform programs are hard to miss. Purchasing farmland for restitution and land reform at market rates is extremely expensive, slowing the process down and putting a lid on land transfers. The government also initially viewed its job as done after it handed land over to beneficiaries. The lack of comprehensive and sustained support from the government led to a wave of discouraging farm failures.

For example, the country’s first successful post-apartheid land claim, by the Elandskloof community in the Western Cape, buckled without enough capital and state support and has only recently begun to regain some footing. The initially successful Zebediela citrus farm in Limpopo province succumbed to the same fate after years of mismanagement, litigation, and interference. Other projects have underdelivered and faced long delays, like the resettlement of the District Six area of Cape Town that the apartheid government bulldozed to the ground—expelling and relocating its residents to make way for a whites-only area—in the 1960s.

In addition to these larger projects, legions of smaller farmers who received government grants to purchase state-acquired farmland have failed due to poor planning and insufficient post-settlement support. And the government has repeatedly been accused of corruption and double-dealing, doling out land to allies and more well-off individuals rather than the most needy. These failures are particularly galling for the many hardworking South Africans who are struggling to make ends meet, and they fan the flames of opposition to the ANC.

While its handling of land issues is shaking the ANC’s monopoly grip on power, any successor government will face similar challenges and should heed the lessons of recent years: Until the country’s land issue is remedied, it will continue to shape South Africa’s politics and bedevil those who govern the country.