Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader, Dr Pieter Groenewald says the African National Congress (ANC) has jeopardised the freedom of Afrikaans people.
Land expropriation destroying democracy
In a statement released on 26 April 2018, Groenewald said the adoption of land expropriation without compensation by the ANC at its 2017 national conference is “jeopardising and destroying one of the pillars of democracy” and that the “ANC is a threat to true democracy as it is depriving citizens of their right to freedom.”
Property rights as a bedrock of democracy
Speaking to Political Analysis South Africa on 30 April 2018, Groenewald said that property ownership is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy. He said that land expropriation without compensation would deprive South African citizens of this right.
“A true democracy and the worth of a true democracy is to ensure that its citizens in that specific country is free… the moment a government endangers those freedoms or endangers the democracy then it endangers the freedoms of its citizens,” he said.
Minority rights
Groenewald said that the ANC should not use its majority to “oppress” minorities in South Africa.
“That’s not a good argument to just say because you have a majority you have the right to change the constitution…you must first ask yourself first if that amendment you want to do is in line with international law,” he said.
“Expropriation without compensation is in conflict with human rights of the United Nations… of course you can change it [the constitution] but you can’t go against international principles,” he added.
Constitutional Review Committee
A committee in Parliament is currently investigating whether sections of the constitution, specifically section 25, should be amended in order to allow for land expropriation without compensation.
The committee was set up after the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) voted in favour of a motion proposing that Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee investigate ways in which land can be expropriated without compensation. The FF+ voted against the motion.
The aforementioned committee has since called for written public submissions on the “review of section 25 of the Constitution (Property Clause) and other sections where necessary, to make it possible for the state to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation.”
Written submissions must be sent by no later than 31 May 2018, and can be emailed to Pat Jayiya (pjayiya@parliament.gov.za).
