EFF leading ANC by nose on land – DA

Tempers flare, Jackson sings in debate on expropriation

FRIDAY APRIL 20 2018

INSULTS, heckling and even a Michael Jackson song came up in a heated land expropriation without compensation debate in the Western Cape provincial legislature, with the DA charging that the ANC is being led by the nose by a populist EFF with a “Mugabe land plan”.

While public consultations are on the cards after the ANC and EFF agreed to a parliamentary motion to expropriate land without compensation, members of the legislature debated the controversial motion.

Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde started his speech with a song by Jackson. “I hope you heard that song, deputy speaker,

We have junk status. We have constant bailouts, look at Eskom and Metrorail. We could not grow by 1%. Our president puts a formidable team to fix the economy.

“They are not serious about this. They don’t care, they talk about land reform but don’t worry with anyone. They are being lead by the nose, by the EFF. They have gone overseas with a Mugabe plan and selling it there.”

EFF provincial leader Bernard Joseph said the Western Cape was notorious for land grabs by white people. “The return of the land will bring back dignity… The state should administer the land in line with a freedom charter.

“The state should also provide implements to help those who work the land. The procurement of food should prioritise small farmers. We will have to apply for land use leases for at least 30 years,” Joseph said.

Richard Dyanti, ANC MPL, made an example of one farmer owning land that stretched from Malmesbury to Citrusdal. “That is what the DA don’t want to hear. They don’t want organisations like Reclaim the City. The DA fought this back in the day, now they are acting like they are protecting it. It protects the rights of mostly white farmers. The DA prefers gated communities. That should tell you a lot,” he said.

Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela said economic emancipation was central to freedom. As he stood up, ANC MPLs shouted “incoming mayor”, while opposition leader Khaya Magaxa labelled him “the biggest opportunist in here”.

Madikizela said: “What has the ANC done? We want to make it clear, this government is fully committed to land reform. We want people to own land.

“This has not been the case (with) the ANC. All these things have nothing to do with Section 25. Amending it won’t expedite it – land reform.

“It is nothing but a populist’s way of getting more votes. The impact has already been seen across the country. Many are seeing this as a way to just grab the land.”

Magaxa said colonialism was a crime against humanity. “We spent years in prison, spent years in prison to fight for the land,” he said.