CAPE TOWN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will pursue a well-managed land reform process, Deputy President David Mabuza said on Thursday, amid growing concern over the government's intensified effort to expropriate land without compensation.

"A well-managed land reform process will not only address the negative legacy of land dispossession, but will promote the entry of new players into the agricultural sector without disrupting existing production capabilities," Mabuza said while answering questions in Parliament.

Land acquisition, restitution and redistribution will unleash a massive potential of emerging black small-holder and commercial farmers to contribute to enhanced production across a range of commodities, Mabuza said.

There is a general consensus that South Africa has to embark on accelerated land reform so that the injustices of the past can be addressed, said Mabuza.

He was speaking as a heated debate was unfolding on the ongoing land reform process in the country.

Parliament's Joint Constitutional Review Committee (JCRC) adopted a report last week in favor of amending Section 25 of the Constitution to make it possible for the state to expropriate land without compensation in the public interest.

This prompted civil group AgriForum to approach the U.S. Embassy and some other foreign embassies earlier this week, seeking their support to force the South African government to stop its controversial land reform.

AgriForum has also threatened to launch a court bid to have the JCRC report set aside, but Parliament said on Wednesday that it will oppose the court application.

AgriForum argues that land expropriation without compensation will drive away white farmers, kill jobs and threaten food security.

But Mabuza tried to alleviate the concerns in his replies to parliamentary questions, saying the concerns that have been raised in the interactions with various agriculture stakeholders are going to be addressed by ensuring that the land reform matter be handled "with utmost sensitivity and care."

As South Africa embarks on this process of accelerated land reform through expropriation without compensation, this must be conducted in a responsible manner without negatively affecting economic growth, investment and agricultural production, Mabuza said.

"We have assured all stakeholders that this process will be orderly, will not lead to disruption of production," he said.

To ensure food security, the government has worked out the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan 2018-2022, Mabuza said.

In addition to establishing relevant coordinating structures at national, provincial and district levels, the plan also seeks to establish inclusive local food value-chains to support access to nutritious and affordable food, Mabuza said.

"For us as government, land reform is central to our vision of expanding agricultural production capacity to ensure that agriculture contributes significantly to economic growth and building a food-secure nation," he said.

As part of the land reform, unutilized and claimed government-owned land will be released to expand access to land for agricultural production, enterprise development and human settlements, according to Mabuza.

"We will work closely with provinces in the implementation projects aimed at accelerating agricultural production, and ensuring that we focus on skills development and mentorship programmes for youth in agriculture," said Mabuza.

Since taking power in 1994, the government led by the African National Congress has made land redistribution from whites to blacks without compensation as one of its priorities.

But land remains predominantly in white hands more than two decades after the end of apartheid, sparking growing discontent among South African blacks. Enditem

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