ANC talks big on land
Changes to constitution is trending among delegates
If the provincial discussions are anything to go by, the ANC – after its policy conference – may consider working with other parties in parliament to amend the constitution.
Several ANC members who attended the provincial policy conferences want to see the ANC speeding up the expropriation of land without compensation, establishing a state bank and implementing economic policies that will see more black people owning companies.
The constitution allows for the expropriation of land, but landowners must be compensated.
The ANC’s national policy conference starts on Friday and ends on Wednesday. The policies are meant to be adopted in December at the national elective conference, and then implemented in government.
Yesterday, Limpopo provincial secretary Knocks Seabi said the constitution was a stumbling block when it comes to expropriation of land, and they want the ANC to emerge with a clear guideline.
“We want the majority of the people to own land and we want the establishment of a state bank that will be cheaper, so poor people can afford to bank with it,” he said.
Seabi said they would also push for the government to invest in agro-processing in his province.
North West province have called for amendments to the constitution through a referendum and more focus on state land.
They also want provinces to be given space to receive levy taxes from mines as part of a broader community empowerment and revenue enhancement.
KwaZulu-Natal province was harsher when it came to land, calling for land redistribution without compensation.
They also want the ANC to push for the advancement of “radical economic transformation” and free and quality education up to the first university degree.
Meanwhile, Gauteng’s ANC policy conference agreed that land redistribution was urgent, but needed to be done within the confines of the law.
The province said that implementation has been slow, as policies about land and a state bank were agreed on in previous conferences, including in 2012.
On “white monopoly capital”, the province said there was no such thing.
Spokesman Nkenke Kekana said the ANC has to make it possible for markets to be open for all players, regardless of race.
The province called on those involved in price collusion to be prosecuted, hence their support of #DataMustFall.