MPS GIVE THUMBS UP TO REPORT ON EXPROPRIATION
Document also warns move could be in conflict with UN resolutions and threaten investment
Members of Parliament have backed the report that the overwhelming number of people in the nine provinces, during public hearings, called for the expropriation of land without compensation.
MEMBERS of Parliament have backed the report that the overwhelming number of people in the nine provinces, during public hearings, called for the expropriation of land without compensation.
However, the report also warned this policy could be in conflict with UN resolutions and threaten markets and the investment climate.
The constitutional review committee had tasked its officials to compile a report on the outcome of public hearings across the country. It had conducted hearings in June and July.
In the report it was stated that the majority of the people who attended the public hearings fully supported amending section 25 of the constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation.
The UDM’s Mncedisi Filtane said they welcomed the report as it reflected the views expressed by the people at the public hearings.
Loyiso Mpumlwana, of the ANC, said these views were expressed by people in various parts of the country, and most of them backed the expropriation of land.
Madipoane Mothapo of the ANC also said she supported the report and commended it on its findings.
But Steve Swart of the African Christian Democratic Party said they needed to be careful about the report. He said he did not see the views expressed by commercial farmers in the public hearings on the impact the policy would have on food security.
The banking sector had also raised concern that it would lose money. It said banks had lent R140 billion to commercial farmers.
Co-chairperson of the committee Lewis Nzimande said the report would be incorporated into the main report to be tabled in Parliament soon.
This would happen once the committee had finalised the process.
“This report will be infused with the other report to be considered by the House,” said Nzimande.
“People are sticking to the principle of calling for further oral submissions. Let’s look at the substance of the submissions. We will schedule the public hearings in the first week of October. We are still waiting for the extension,” said Nzimande on the calls for more oral submissions and deadline extension.
Nzimande told MPs they had sent a letter to Speaker Baleka Mbete asking for an extension.
The committee’s deadline to table the report in Parliament was next Friday. The committee still has to finalise a list of people to make oral submissions in the House.
The committee also has to go through the thousands of submissions submitted. This process will take several weeks, and MPs said they needed more time.