Lobbying against land expropriation expected to heat up

Lobby groups are expected to intensify their campaigns against land expropriation ahead of the elections, according to an analyst.

This as an advisory panel’s report on land reform became the subject of a public spat between agricultural collective Agri-SA and the panel.

The lobby group’s CEO, Dan Kriek, said he and at least one other member of the panel refused to sign the draft report – a claim that was promptly refuted by the panel’s chairperson, Vuyo Mahlati, who said there simply was no document to sign a this stage.

Several lobby groups, including the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) and the Free Market Foundation, have campaigned fiercely against the planned implementation of land expropriation without compensation (EWC) since parliament’s adoption of the policy.

IRR spokesperson Michael Morrison said the institution planned to keep adding pressure on parliament to choose property rights over EWC.

“We have kept up a strong campaign since last year and last week, delivered 160,000 signatures to the president.”

Political analyst Andre Duvenhage said a lobby race between those for and against EWC was expected to intensify in the election period. Parties were using the upcoming elections to push their viewpoints through.

The majority of these groups were against changing the constitution but they were up against organisations like the EFF and BLF, he said.

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