ANC calls for support on expropriation of land
"It is our prayer that all South Africans accept the bill for what it is, without seeking to use it to defend racial and class supremacy."
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has called upon its members and supporters to play a role in supporting the Constitutional amendment, which will allow for expropriation of land without compensation.
Secretary of the ANC in the Mzala Nxumalo region, Zakes Buthelezi outlined the importance of this amendment.
“It is conceivable that maybe there would have been no ANC had it not been that our land was taken away from us. The main reason our forebears decided to unite across tribal lines to form one organisation, which would serve as their spear and shield, is that
they had fought the encroachment and dispossession of the land as various tribes and formations, against a solid colonial force that was hellbent on disposing and oppressing them as a group.
“It thus became the historical imperative of the ANC to restore land to its rightful owners. Over the years, the ANC committed itself to the principle of non-racialism and the freedom charter is very clear in that ‘South Africa belongs to all who live in it’.
“One of the clauses of the Freedom Charter speaks to the question of land and it expressly says ‘The land shall be shared amongst those who work it’. It is very clear from this that to achieve the objectives of our struggle as the ANC, radical land reform will be required. “Section 25 of the South African constitution as it stands, made provision for expropriation of land without compensation, but is not clear enough and has therefore served to delay land reform. It is under these circumstances that it was resolved we have to canvass
the support of our people, with an aim of amending Section 25 of the South African Constitution, to make explicit what is implicit in
that section of the Constitution as it stands.
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy and it is therefore important that the view of the majority is sought in any legislative process which takes place, as is the case with this particular amendment. Hence our call as the ANC is for people to vote in their numbers in support of the proposed amendment.
“Lastly, on the question of who shall benefit from this amendment, we believe all South Africans stand to benefit as the end result and there will be social and political empowerment which will narrow the divide between races, thus allowing for better social cohesion,
peace and stability as it will also gradually end poverty and land hunger. This will allow more South Africans to be involved in food
production. “We must also remind ourselves that this approach is non-racial and shall allow for all those excluded to benefit from the land reform
process. It is our prayer that all South Africans accept the bill for what it is, without seeking to use it to defend racial and class supremacy.” The comment period closes on January 31 and any comments can be emailed to section25@parliament.gov.za.
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