Bid to tackle land impasse

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has announced it will be talking to political parties in a bid resolve the impasse between government and business following the adopting of a motion to amend section 25 of the constitution to expropriate land without compensation.

BLSA chief executive Bonang Mohale pledged to work with members on developing proposals on inclusive growth and transformation, employment, skills development, cities and urbanisation as well as ownership of land.

“On April 10, our council held a special workshop to formulate their preliminary position on the issue of land reform in light of the current parliamentary process following the passing of the motion to expropriate land without compensation – a resolution of the ANC’s 54th national conference,” Mohale said.

“For our part, we will be participating in this process and we plan to engage both the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters, which sponsored the motion in parliament.”

Mohale said BLSA had taken note of the extensive consultative process outlined by the chairperson of the parliamentary ad hoc constitutional review committee, Vincent Smith, saying all South Africans must make their views heard on this important matter.

“We want to work with all social partners on solutions that address the hardships of the past adequately without damaging the long-term sustainability of South Africa as an investment destination,” Mohale said.

BLSA’s announcement comes after rights group AfriBusiness pledge last month that it would provide free legal aid to the first of its members impacted by the land issue.

“We are ready to institute legal action on behalf of the first AfriBusiness member whose property is expropriated without compensation in terms of an amendment of the property clause in the constitution,” AfriBusiness CEO Piet le Roux said.

“Expropriation without compensation is theft, irrespective of whether it is made constitutional or not.”

He said the dilution of property rights in South Africa would lead to extensive economic harm and social disruption and reverse the gains of land restitution since 1994, when white minority apartheid rule fell. – ANA

We want solutions without damaging the sustainability of SA as an investment destination. Bonang Mohale Chief executive Business Leadership SA