Opponents of a controversial South African land expropriation bill are calling the legislation a threat to private ownership after it was endorsed by the country's president.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law a bill allowing land seizures by the state without compensation - a move that has put him at odds with some members of his government. Black people only own a small fraction of farmland nationwide more than 30 years after the end of the racist system of apartheid - the majority remains with the white minority.