Land expropriation gets green light

In early December, the National Assembly adopted a motion to establish an adhoc committee to finalise the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation before the general election in 2019.

This followed the adoption of the report of the Joint Constitutional Review Committee, which recommended that the Constitution be amended, by the two houses of Parliament.

According to Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, a strong property rights system enabled investment and economic growth, as well as human capabilities, research and innovation, environmental performance, and social capital.

“Property rights are the key ingredient for the prosperity of society,” he added.

He also said that the greatest failure of land reform had been government’s inability to extend property rights to previously disadvantaged individuals.

“Orderly, predictable and marketbased land reform, within the ambit of the current Constitution, is essential to ensure tenure security, business confidence, and to maintain the integrity of the agrofood system in South Africa.”

Agbiz would continue to constructively engage with government, but reserved the right to challenge any such amendments should they have a negative impact on the agriculture sector, and if the process merited a challenge, he said.

Dr Mandala Buthelezi, senior vicepresident of the National African Farmers’ Union of South Africa (NAFU), welcomed the adoption of the report and said it was long overdue. However, he added that expropriation without compensation needed to be properly planned, while empowering farmers.

“Land must also not be nationalised. Title deeds must be given so that the land will be owned by the people.” – Jeandré van der Walt