A parliamentary committee is currently investigating whether some sections of the Constitution should be amended in order to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation.
Thandeka Mbabama, who is the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Shadow Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, told Political Analysis South Africa on Monday, 23 April that the calls for land expropriation by the African National Congress (ANC) are as a result of the upcoming elections, and might not be sincere.
“The calls for expropriation without compensation are being made because of the upcoming elections. I am not sure that the ANC is really sincere in their calls in supporting the EFF. I feel like are just posturing so that they can get votes for the upcoming elections,” she said.
Mbabama also believes that the recent wave so “land grabs” in the country are putting pressure on the governing party to accelerate land reform, but says the government should not expropriate land without compensation because “it is the wrong thing to do.”
Meanwhile, the National Chairperson of the Congress of the People (COPE), Pakes Dikgetsi, says his party has always called for land reform, but warns the course of action taken by other parties is incorrect.
“When it comes to land reform we were very bold as to say that the approach of the other parties is wrong,” he said.
Kenneth Mokgatlhe, who is the spokesperson of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania(PAC), told Political Analysis South Africa on Monday, 23 April that his party welcomes the current deliberations taking place on land reform because they are being conducted through a constitutional process.
Mokgatlhe, however, expressed concern at the timing, highlighting that the ANC has been at the helm of government since the beginning of the democratic dispensation, with very little action on land reform.
