Opinions divided at land hearing
AT A ROWDY land hearing in Goodwood, EFF and ANC supporters fought to be heard as the proponents of land expropriation without compensation.
Three issues dominated the hearings – the need for housing, land to be returned to the Khoi and San people, and agricultural land.
Among the speakers was Bettie Fortuin, a farm worker from De Doorns who supports the expropriation of land without compensation.
“We have been working the land for many years. We haven’t seen a single hectare of land in our names. We work the land, but we own nothing. The Bill of Rights says that those who work the land shall own it. Where do we own land?”
Bernard Isaacs said he did not support the expropriation of land.
“We have an economy that is suffering and we cannot afford anything like this. The problem is not the expropriation, but the government’s failed attempt to redistribute the land.”
Parliament’s joint review committee has held over 30 hearings in all nine provinces, with the last of the hearings taking place in Cape Town.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane also addressed a small crowd of supporters outside the venue.
“Let me tell you that as a South African I am not happy with the land ownership in South Africa. I want it to change but that change does not require changing the Constitution but changing the government,” Maimane said.