Government ready for any ‘resistance’ to land expropriation bill

THE government has warned that it is ready for any legal challenge over the expropriation of land without compensation bill.

Deputy President David Mabuza told Parliament yesterday that despite the process unfolding in the national legislature, they were ready for any litigation.

Opposition parties have in the past indicated they would challenge the process in the Constitutional Court.

Responding to questions in the chamber, Mabuza said: “What we are anticipating is that there will be resistance. We are prepared for the resistance. Our intentions are noble and meant to benefit the country. We are prepared to travel this journey.

“Our land reform is meant to redress the past imbalances. We are mindful of the challenges, but our people must know there is goodwill from the government.” He said they were also encouraged that some farmers had donated land.

Mabuza reiterated that the government would also donate land parcels to those who needed it.

Mabuza also said they were fixing municipalities. The Auditor-General, Kimi Makwetu, has issued damning findings against some poorly-run municipalities. In his last audit report, Makwetu found that irregular expenditure amounted to R25 billion.

National Treasury had even suggested to the standing committee on finance a few months ago that it should call municipalities to account in Parliament for irregular expenditure. But Mabuza said mechanisms had been put in place to strengthen municipalities.

He said former minister of co-operative governance Zweli Mkhize had sent in a team of engineers, technicians and other experts to troubled municipalities.

“With regard to municipalities, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs has put in mechanisms to assist municipalities to respond to the audit reports.”

The AG had also found that out of 257 municipalities in the country, just 18 got clean audits in the past financial year.

Mabuza said through the inter-ministerial committee on service delivery, the government was trying to jack up service delivery.