Public Works set to deliver land reform report at last

THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is expected to present a report to MPs detailing the work it has done over the past few years on land reform in the country.

The department and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development were sent packing by MPs two weeks ago due to the fact that they were unprepared for their presentations.

While the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development returned to the ad hoc committee on land expropriation last week to make its submissions, chairperson of the committee Mathole Motshekga said they were now ready for Public Works to brief MPs.

He said the committee’s main objective was to finalise the bill on amendments to section 25 of the Constitution without delay.

Motshekga said ANC MP Cyril Xaba would work on the revised report of the committee.

If other political parties had different views, they would be allowed time to make their inputs, he added.

The ad hoc committee has been working on the process to amend the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation over the past few months.

The DA and Freedom Front Plus warned the committee that if the process was not followed the matter would be taken on review.

Some opposition parties are not happy that some of the written submissions have not been considered.

They said recently that this could lead to a legal challenge.