WATCH: Zweli Mkhize speaks out about returning the land

ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize says the ANC’s policy on land has been about “having to ensure that the land is returned to the people and that all of that needs to be done within the confines of the law and constitution”.

Mkhize was speaking to Jacaranda FM, where he spoke broadly about land and the urgency to address how it enables black communities to engage in economic activities, leading to empowerment.

Below are a few quotes from the interview:

ANC discussed land at its Mangaung conference a decade ago

“Even the one provision that was brought up in the Mangaung conference that referred to expropriation without compensation for land that was illegally obtained and used for unlawful purposes, all that was within the guidance of the constitution.”

The ruling party realises there is an urgency regarding the issue

“Now the question that has arisen is how fast or rapidly are we doing it. I think we all generally believe that it is not satisfactory, it needs to be accelerated so we need to look at what are the areas that we need to be focusing on. Part of the issues we need to look at and take into account are how fast should we be returning the land because it needs to be part of the basis of economic activity of our communities. So in particular, there is a need for us to be able to address that matter.”

The upcoming ANC national conference will analyse the matter of land expropriation

“We will have a whole day workshop to analyse where the delays might have come from. Is it because of the slow progress in the bureaucracy in the facilitation of land reform. Is it because of the way the support was given to people who have received the land? Is it because there is a constraint in the legislation or constitutional …  so we will look at all of these things and deal with it in preparation for our national conference.”

Watch Mkhize’s full interview below

The Twitter reaction to Mkhize’s comments

#ZweliMkhize there's hope for us fam.

— Coach T [Teddy] (@HlumelaDlala) April 25, 2017

#ZweliMkhize Will they rebuild the 90% top productive farms that failed after radical economic transformation redistribution?

— Hilda (@Hilda0071) April 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/BradleyMaseko/status/856749661964685312

#zwelimkhize we don't need a land in Limpopo but Gauteng

— Orlando Pirates 🇿🇦 (@Dk_Herbert) April 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/RealTboss/status/856763356727980032

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