SOUTH AFRICA AND THE LAND DEBATE. Black people in South Africa form the largest part of the population amounting to 22 million, multiple times the number of white people but they are the most impoverished.
National Parliament through a two-thirds majority veto resolved on the possibilities to amend the current land act as the only tit for tat avenue that will expedite the emancipation black of people.
They resolved to expropriate land including white-owned farms without reparations and the state will the meantime be the custodian of the land.
Meaning claimants who were unfairly dislodged from thier land will lodge claims direct to the state. Currently, approximately 67 percent of land in South Africa is owned by white people, transfered to them by thier forefathers who happens to have dislodged blacks through the hitherto apartheid tyranny government.
The call has since gained momentum dispute numerous deterrences from (AFRIFORUM and Democratic Alliance) white minority as Parliament review committees are currently engaging the public athwart for further comments and consultations.
The debacle started in 1910 when South Africa stopped being a colony of Britain. They became an independent with it government. The new government made a law called the 1913 land act.
The act said that over 90% of the country was for white people and less than 10% for black people. The areas set aside for black people were called homelands. This was the beginning of south Africa’s official policy of treating people of different race groups differently.
This white conquest lasted for ages until 1994 when the iconic Nelson Mandela took over from the Apartheid national party through the African national Congress.
Mandela vehemently preached unity and reconciliation among all races within the republic . Under his guise Land reform and redistribution were not on top of the agenda.
However, given the complexity and the need for change Mandela and his leadership established a policy called “willing buyer willing seller” which has thus far flawed to meet its objective which were to transform and emancipated black people.
Willing buyer will seller was not a law but a policy adopted by the ruling party African National party of Nelson Mandela. It is considered expensive for blacks.
This policy has so far allowed Land owners to block redistribution efforts, as it allows property owners to refuse to have their property expropriated and also allows them to hold the government to ransom by demanding that the state pay exorbitant prices for property intended for expropriation.
Furthermore to add on the impediments White people are not willing to sell land to back people. Black People are the most poverty stricken in South Africa though they form a Large number of the population . Most of them are unemployed.
Dispute the call receiving swift of applauds among Black people, it has also received critiques.
Analysts call this policy of expropriating land without compensation an economic hara-kiri , because blacks are seen as not having the passion for farming and many of them do not possess the necessary skills to work the land.
Sapiko a farm which was previously White owned . It used to produce tea to nearby provinces and abroad. The whole arable land was redistributed back to blacks , since then the farm longer produce anything. In fact, the land is currently laying fallow.
Zimbabwe is another notifiable exemplary of a failed land expropriation. The complex questions from economic acumen remains , who will redistribute the land , How given the colossus and backlog of claims received by the land reform commission established in 1994.
Well, this is not going to be an easy journey for both the pro and anti land Expropriation without compensation bill. For the bill to be passed into law it must still go to the national assembly for discussion and terms and conditions. Thereafter those in favour will have to vote and achieve two third majority.
AFRIFORUM ( CIVIL RIGHTS MINORITY ORGANIZATION)
AFRIFORUM vowed to send a delegation to USA and UK as part of thier international campaign against this imminent bill which they claim is based on a distortion of the south African history.
According to an emergency statement released on the organization’s official website, the land in South Africa is linked to race.
” The land Audit report in 2017 attempted land to race.
“The organization plans on meeting government representative, research institutions, the media and potential investors abroad.
AFRIFORUM Plans on mobilizing the international community to pressurise the south African government into setting aside it’s expropriation policy.”
The organisation further rebuked reports that every land was forcefully taken from black people.
The distortion of the past relates to the assumption that white land owners inevitable obtained land through oppression, whereas most of the owned by white people was legally bought.”
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
The ruling party strengthened thier support for amendment of Expropriation without compensation . This comes after the party’s NEC resolved that they will indeed support the bill when it goes to Parliament for further discussions.
Through a video that was sent to the media by the party’s communication department.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says ” our people have been expressing thier views on the land question openly and Without fear or favour. They have been putting forward solutions on the land question can be resolved. This is the Constitutional democracy that we fought for.
The ANC reaffirms it’s position that the Constitution is a mandate for radical transformation both of society and economy.
A prosper reading of the Constitution on the property clause enable the state to effect Expropriation of land with just and equitable compensation and also expropriation without compensation in the public interest.
It has become patently clear that people want the Constitution be more explicit about Expropriation of land without compensations, as demonstrated in the public hearings . There is also a growing body opinion , by a number Africans , that the Constitution as it stands dies not impede Expropriation of land without compensation.
The lekgotla ( weekly convocation) reaffirmed its position that a comprehensive land reform programme that enables equitable access to land will unlock economic growth, by bringing more land in South Africa to full use, and enable the productive participation of millions more South Africans in the economy.
Accordingly, the ANC will, through the parliamentary process, finalise a proposed amendment to the Constitution that outlines more clearly the conditions under which expropriation of land without compensation can be effected.
The intention of this proposed amendment is to promote redress, advance economic development, increase agricultural production and food security.
It will also transform the unjust spatial realities in urban areas.
To accelerate agrarian reform, the ANC has further directed the government to urgently initiate farmer support programmes in depressed areas before the first rains this year.
This should include supporting farmers with tools, tractors, fertilisers, seeds, extension services, finance and access to key infrastructure.
Our economy is facing serious challenges. The recently released figures on unemployment are worrying.
Given this economic environment, the Lekgotla directed the Government to move with urgency to develop and implement a stimulus package to ignite growth that will lead to the creation of jobs, especially for young people and women.
These efforts should focus on rural communities and townships.”
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (SECOND LARGEST PARTY IN PARLIAMENT)
Party Leader Mmusi Maimane says for ANC to come publicly proclaim that they will move forward with Expropriation of land without compensation is a direct attempt to undermine Parliament and is contributing to no confidence in the economy.
It beggar’s belief that while there are still half a million submissions to be processed by the Constitutional Review Committee, and no less than five public hearings still to be conducted in the Western Cape, the ANC has decided to jump the gun, undermine this public consultation procedure, and render the entire process moot.”
Maimane says ” the DA will never, under any circumstances, support a reckless policy that removes economic power from individuals and hands it to a corrupt government. Land reform is a justice issue, and we advocate for land reform that champions private property rights and empowers individuals – as evidenced in DA-led governments across the country. We don’t need a new Constitution clause to accelerate land reform, we need a new government.
According to Mr. Maimane “, the ANC cannot on its own amend the Constitution as it requires a two thirds majority vote in Parliament. It appears the ANC is being led by other populist parties who only want to sow division, eradicate properly rights, and see our economy implode. We call on all South Africans to reject populism and stand up for constitutionalism in building One South Africa For All.
South Africa is currently facing an ANC-created economic and unemployment crisis. With almost 10 million jobless South Africans, every decision ought to be measured on the impact it has on the economy and job creation.
Expropriating land without compensation will damage the economy and will lead to many more joining the ranks of the unemployed. Therefore, the DA can never support such a policy. ” Says Mmusi Maimane.
ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS
The Economic freedom fighters’s approach to land Expropriation without compensation is that all land should be transferred to the ownership and custodianship of the state in a similar way that all mineral and petroleum resources were transferred to the ownership and custodianship of the state.
The EFF’s approach further state that one the state is in control , those who are currently using the land or intend using land in the immediate will apply for land use licences , which should be granted only when there is a purpose for the land applied for.
BY: STEVE LEFOPHANA
