"To address the land question, we need legislation that will be as forceful as war.”
This was said by premier Phumulo Masualle during the opening of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) in Bhisho yesterday.
“A market-driven land reform programme has never succeeded in any part of the globe.
“Today anyone who speaks about land expropriation without compensation is scorned by the markets and certain sections of the media as an economic novice who wants to ruin and collapse the economy,” said Masualle.
The premier said the fact that the majority of the land was still in white hands was “the real making for economic failure”.
“The status quo, rather than land reform in the country, is the real recipe for social instability,” he said.
For years the ANC-led government had argued the Constitution allowed for land to be expropriated without compensation, but at its December conference, the party took the radical decision, making it its policy. This means the ANC-led government will abandon the “willing buyer, willing seller” policy, which it had been using.
“We commend the landmark resolution of our national parliament, following the passing of the motion introduced in that house by the Economic Freedom Fighters, to re-write Section 25 of our Constitution and as further amended by the majority party, the ANC, to indeed expropriate land without compensation.”
Masualle said returning the land to black hands had been a long struggle that dated back to before 1912.
ECHTL chairman Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana said traditional leaders were happy with the plans to expropriate land without compensation and said that would restore people’s dignity.
“It should not be forgotten that land was stolen from traditional leaders and we want to make it clear that we want land to be returned to traditional leaders and their communities.
“We do not support the restoration of land to individuals. What we support is the collective ,” said Nonkonyana.
Meanwhile, Masualle said the election of President Cyril Ramaphosa had brought hope to millions of people.
“This surge of optimism in society has also translated into an improved international perception of our country following the election of Ramaphosa.”
He said government had also consolidated the implementation of the Eastern Cape Customary Male Initiation Practice Act No 5 of 2016, saying this had resulted in a drop of the number of initiates who were killed while undergoing the rite last year.
He also called on traditional leaders to teach boys to respect and protect women. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Make law ‘forceful as war’
This was said by premier Phumulo Masualle during the opening of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL) in Bhisho yesterday.
“A market-driven land reform programme has never succeeded in any part of the globe.
“Today anyone who speaks about land expropriation without compensation is scorned by the markets and certain sections of the media as an economic novice who wants to ruin and collapse the economy,” said Masualle.
The premier said the fact that the majority of the land was still in white hands was “the real making for economic failure”.
“The status quo, rather than land reform in the country, is the real recipe for social instability,” he said.
For years the ANC-led government had argued the Constitution allowed for land to be expropriated without compensation, but at its December conference, the party took the radical decision, making it its policy. This means the ANC-led government will abandon the “willing buyer, willing seller” policy, which it had been using.
“We commend the landmark resolution of our national parliament, following the passing of the motion introduced in that house by the Economic Freedom Fighters, to re-write Section 25 of our Constitution and as further amended by the majority party, the ANC, to indeed expropriate land without compensation.”
Masualle said returning the land to black hands had been a long struggle that dated back to before 1912.
ECHTL chairman Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana said traditional leaders were happy with the plans to expropriate land without compensation and said that would restore people’s dignity.
“It should not be forgotten that land was stolen from traditional leaders and we want to make it clear that we want land to be returned to traditional leaders and their communities.
“We do not support the restoration of land to individuals. What we support is the collective ,” said Nonkonyana.
Meanwhile, Masualle said the election of President Cyril Ramaphosa had brought hope to millions of people.
“This surge of optimism in society has also translated into an improved international perception of our country following the election of Ramaphosa.”
He said government had also consolidated the implementation of the Eastern Cape Customary Male Initiation Practice Act No 5 of 2016, saying this had resulted in a drop of the number of initiates who were killed while undergoing the rite last year.
He also called on traditional leaders to teach boys to respect and protect women. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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