EFF inf luence at hearing slated

Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota has criticised the land expropriation public hearings process in Limpopo‚ saying it is being “stage-managed” by the EFF.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the hearing into potential amendments to Section 25 of the constitution in Mokopane yesterday.

Parliament’s joint constitutional review committee is in the province to engage members of the public on a review of the constitution to enable the expropriation of land in the public interest without compensation.

Lekota said parliamentarians could not allow EFF leader Julius Malema to pick who could address the committee during the hearings.

Lekota and Malema got into an altercation on Wednesday after the COPE leader confronted him about his “interference”.

“The sad part is they [EFF] really think that politics is a cheating game. To start with‚ politics is not a game‚” he said.

“It’s a serious matter of life and death.

“The decisions we are making will lead to the deaths of human beings.”

COPE has opposed the proposal to change Section 25‚ warning that if land was expropriated without compensation‚ war would break out.

Lekota also questioned why committee chairman Vincent Smith had allowed Malema to co-lead the hearings.

On Wednesday‚ Malema had to intervene repeatedly to calm the crowds in Marble Hall‚ also assisting Smith with the selection of the speaking order.

Lekota also complained about the extension of the time allocated for the hearings.

He said the decision to continue with the proceedings after 4pm on Wednesday was unfair to other provinces‚ and against parliament’s decisions. –