‘Don’t use land as tool to split our people’
IFP PRESIDENT Mangosuthu Buthelezi yesterday urged political parties not to use the contentious issue of land expropriation to pit South Africans against one another.
Buthelezi was speaking at the launch of his party’s manifesto in the run-up to the May 8 elections, with the party appearing confident that it can build on the gains of the 2016 local government elections and draw support from opposition political parties.
Speaking at Chatsworth stadium in the heart of a largely Indian community, Buthelezi yesterday called out to former members of the Minority Front, to join his party.
“Let me speak very directly. I want to ask all those former members of the Minority Front who defected to the DA to consider your real home. The IFP has walked a long road with the Indian community. Isn’t it time you came home?”
He announced yesterday that party structures had nominated Velenkosini Hlabisa as the party’s premier candidate for KZN. Hlabisa is expected to succeed Buthelezi when he retires as leader of the party.
The IFP wants land to be expropriated with compensation and in a manner that does not scare off investors.
Buthelezi yesterday said land was a defining issue for South Africa’s future.
“We are all in agreement that people need access to land, to produce food and to raise families in dignity and security. The question is how this objective should be pursued.
First and foremost, it must not be used by political demagogues to pit people against each other. Equally important, whatever we do must be done in a way that protects and enhances the economy, so that we can secure social and economic justice for all.”
Buthelezi accused the government of failing South Africans on “this most fundamental issue”.
“In 25 years, less than 4% of South Africa’s land has been redistributed to claimants. We cannot wait for a failed government to start performing. We need to change the party, the values and the vision at the helm. Fortunately, we can do that. We do it with our votes.” Buthelezi said land would be the great debate in the build-up to the elections with people asking how it will work, if it will work, and whether it’s the right choice for South Africa.
“The IFP understands that the resolution of the land issue carries with it the promise of healing the wounds of the past. Land has social, spiritual and economic value.
It has the potential to be the foundation of the renewed economy our country so critically needs. In keeping with our approach of a longterm vision, the IFP wants to create a training infrastructure to ensure that the land can become productive. This means introducing agricultural science at school level, and reopening agricultural training colleges.”
The party believes that all unused land that is in the hands of the state should be allocated to assist the poor.
“Where land expropriation is necessary, we affirm the Constitution in its belief that there should be some level of compensation,” Buthelezi said.
He said a leadership crisis and a crisis of corruption had landed the country in dangerous waters.