Land crunch time looms large

REPORT: SEPTEMBER 28 DEADLINE FOR COMMITTEE

Submissions have been pouring in from organisations and individuals.

With 95 days in total – or 67 working days – left to read through more than 700 000 written submissions, and attend 34 public hearings from tomorrow until August 4, the pressure is on for the joint constitutional review committee to review the constitution around land expropriation and deliver its report to parliament by September 28.

And despite the clock counting down, it wasn’t a numbers game when it came to yes or no submissions, but rather the strength of the argument over whether or not the constitution should be amended, committee chairperson Vincent Smith told The Citizen yesterday.

“This is not a referendum. If somebody came with a whole pile saying ‘we don’t agree’ and then nothing else, which is not inconceivable, it doesn’t help take the process forward,” Smith said.

“You should be saying you don’t agree because you’ll lose your bond or whatever the case may be. To send us a one liner saying “don’t change the constitution” doesn’t assist us.”

“When we take our decision, it will be a decision that is fair, that is rational, and a decision that is widely consulted and considered.

“So, yes, AfriForum have in excess of 51 000 submissions, Cope spoke about 248 000 submissions, and I think the Freedom Front or somebody like that has also submitted. There was also a WhatsApp group which sent in submissions.”

Smith noted the committee would say for the record how many yeses and nos were recorded. However, this would not determine the committee’s recommendation to parliament. When it came to law based submissions, Smith said a service provider which had been appointed would do the initial analysis of each submission, and would then submit a report to the committee.

“Depending on the analysis, we may have to ask for expert advice from legal practitioners. I have been speaking to a few informally from the University of Cape Town and others so, if the need arises, I will put it to the committee which will then suggest the best legal minds we should utilise.”

Written submissions closed on June 15. If the author of the submission cannot be identified, it will not be accepted as a legitimate submission.

Made up of 13 ANC, three DA, three EFF and one each from ACDP, Cope, IFP and NFP, the committee has been split into two teams to conduct hearings.

Smith said their job was to facilitate conversation at the public hearings.

“There will be no party politicking during our roadshows. Members of parliament will go and listen, regardless of the views that come out, and then take those views into consideration when we do our final report,” Smith said.

“It’s an emotive subject. In these hearings there will be divergent views and I think we need to be tolerant of each other’s views.”

Public hearings are expected to be held until August 17. –

It’s an emotive subject.