ANC spells out land policy

Expropriation without compensation was an aspiration and not ANC policy, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said yesterday.

Briefing the media on several Bills addressing land reform, Nkwinti said expropriation without compensation was on the agenda during Cabinet Lekgotla and before President Jacob Zuma delivered his State of the Nation address last month.

“This is the direction we’re taking to the national policy conference in June, so there is no determination in this regard yet,” Nkwinti said.

The minister said the Regulation of Agricultural Land Holdings Bill, to bar foreigners from owning land in the country, would comply fully with the constitution.

But foreigners would be allowed to lease land. Nkwinti gave the assurance that “there will be no arbitrary taking away of their land”.

Asked whether this proposed law would apply retrospectively, Nkwinti said they would approach the courts to seek advice.

“We will seek a declaratory order on that point because South African law will not accept or agree that you dispossess someone without just equitable compensation, so we are mindful of that.”

A key feature of the Bill is the creation of a land commission, which would register all agricultural holdings in the country, with owners having to provide details of their race, gender and nationality.

“We will create a commission which will enable government and the people of South Africa to know exactly who owns South Africa and to what extent,” Nkwinti said.

The Bill, along with the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Bill, the Communal Land Tenure Bill, the Communal Association Amendment Bill, the Land Valuation Regulations under the Property Valuation Act of 2014, will be introduced in parliament this year. – ANA