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he Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution met on Tuesday to adopt the programme with amendments for provincial public hearings.

The Chairperson of the committee, Dr Mathole Motshekga appealed to committee members, saying that when the public participation process commences they should listen to all the people of South Africa, both black and white. “It should not turn into a battle of ideas between public representatives, because the draft bill that ensues from the public hearings must be informed by what the people are saying.”

The committee agreed to divide into two groups for the public hearings, so that hearings can run concurrently.

The meeting agreed to engage with the Southern African Interfaith Council (SAIC) which is an umbrella body of all major faith-based organisations to empower them to prepare their member organisations to participate in the process. This engagement will take place on 17 February 2020.

The first round of public hearings will take place from 20-24 February in Limpopo and Northern Cape.
 
Among other things, the aim of the Bill is to amend the Constitution to provide that where land and any improvements thereon are expropriated for the purposes of land reform, nil compensation may be payable.
 
Written submissions must be received by no later than 29 February 2020. Submissions and enquiries must be directed to Mr V Ramaano, 3rd Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town, 8000 or emailed tosection25@parliament.gov.za – Copies of the Bill may be obtained from Mr V Ramaano, tel: 021 403-3820 or 083 709 8427 or www.parliament.gov.za
 
A copy of the draft Bill can be found on: https://tinyurl.com/yxydm746

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25 of the constitution