ANC backs call to take back white-owned land without compensation

South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) says it will back a motion brought by the radical opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on land expropriation without compensation.

EFF leader Julius Malema led the debate in parliament this afternoon.

He told MPs: “The time for reconciliation is over. Now is the time for justice.

“If the grandchildren of Jan Van Riebeeck have not understood that we need our land, that over and above it’s about our dignity then they have failed to receive the gift of humanity. We do not seek revenge.

“Land must be expropriated without compensation for equal distribution.”

The ANC agreed with the motion.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Gugile Nkwinti said they would vote in support of the motion.

“The ANC unequivocally supports the principle of land expropriation without compensation as moved by the EFF,” he said.

“Let us do away with this narrative that land was stolen, as if our people were asleep when land was taken. It was taken through brutal wars of colonialism.”

However, South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, disagreed with their stance.

They warned “land expropriation without compensation cannot be part of the solution”.

A 2017 land audit report by the department of land reform states 72% of farm land is owned by white owners, followed by coloureds (people of mixed race) at 15%, Indians at 5% and blacks at 4%.

In last week’s State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said while he supports land to be taken without pay, he would not agree to a “smash and grab” policy.

The debate sets in motion the process in which parliament will vote to amend the constitution. The committee is expected to meet on 30 August.

BBC

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