Takeover of land without reparation adopted

EFF, DA metros’ pact in balance

The EFF has claimed victory on the passing of a motion for land expropriation without compensation in the National Assembly‚ which was overwhelmingly adopted yesterday.

The motion‚ brought by EFF leader Julius Malema‚ was passed after 324 of 400 members of parliament sat to vote on the motion.

Eighty three MPs voted against it while 241 voted in favour of the motion.

The DA‚ who said there was no need for the amendment of the constitution as the slow process of land redistribution was a result of the ANC-led government’s failure for the past 25 years‚ did not support the motion.

Neither did Cope‚ the African Christian Democratic Party nor the Freedom Front Plus.

The matter will now be referred to the Constitutional Review Committee‚ which must report back to parliament by August 30.

The EFF proposed that an ad hoc committee be established to review and amend Section 25 of the constitution to make it possible for the state to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation.

Section 25 of the constitution – known as the property clause – states the government must make laws and take other steps to help people or communities to get land to live on‚ and to claim back land if they lost it after 1913 and because of an apartheid law.

In March last year‚ a similar motion brought by the EFF was defeated by 261 votes to 33.

The ANC said at the time it did not agree with any form of land expropriation without compensation.

Malema also threatened to pass a motion of no confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip as a “warning shot” aimed at getting the DA to show their commitment to land expropriation without compensation.

‘‘ Democratic Alliance did not support the motion