If it is not land expropriation without compensation, then what is it?
Residents of Munsieville and Pango Camp informal settlement took to the streets recently to show their anger after their demands were not met by the municipality once again.
The riot left a path of destruction with burning truck tyres, logs and rocks scattered all over the roads, making them impassable.
The police had to clear the roads of obstruction, as the community members disappeared, but they returned later, carrying materials to build shacks on the council land.
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) doesn’t want illegal land invasions. We can’t accept them and we can’t tolerate them because the wrong people are going to benefit.
Illegal land invasions will lead to people who are not supposed get land being given land they do not qualify for. Along the way, extortion is going to take place – in exchange for land.
The front page of the News’ 18 May edition, They took their promised land shocked us. Yes, people had lost patience. They wanted land and could no longer wait for government – which was already battling with massive backlogs to hand over completed houses.
Sanco is going to be engaging with all the mayors and is hoping they will leave their ideological party positions and understand that people want land. They must stop this thing of their parties not wanting to deal with the land question decisively.
Our country needs a fresh approach to the resolution of the land question, which has been at the heart of the struggle against colonial conquest and racial oppression. As allies of the ANC, we welcomed the resolution of the governing parties 54th National Conference on the expropriation of land without compensation.
During our interaction with branches through Mogale City Zonal meetings, people have been making calls to us make land available to them so that they can built their own houses and embark on productive economic activities.
The land question requires us to work together as political parties, civil society and business to redress the historical injustice visited upon our people.
