Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members.

As the IFP we add our support to the proposal that the delegation to the NCOP or a delegate designated by the head of the delegation must cast a vote in support of the Property Practitioners Bill [B21B-2018] at the NCOP plenary.

We support this Bill because it is levelling the playing field by repealing the Estate Agency Affairs Act, 1976 (Act No. 112 of 1976. The IFP will be here after elections to ensure that the Act will be implemented.

This Estate Agency Affairs Act was promulgated “over 40 years ago,” during an era when blacks in general, and Africans, were meant to be nothing more than “hewers of wood and drawers of water.” (Josh.9:21)

On the other hand, the Property Practitioners Bill seeks to transform this very vital industry to ensure that it is inclusive of all, especially the previously-disadvantaged. Of importance is that – among other things – it will “deal with protection of consumers, dispute resolution in the property sector, training and development of property practitioners…”

The IFP supports this Bill because it is yet another step towards the realization of the type of future that South Africa committed itself to in 1994. 1994 guaranteed political freedom to all of us. Our challenge now as representatives of our people, is to ensure that political freedom enables all citizens to have access to fundamental rights including the opportunity to enter the property industry.

We therefore call upon our people to make use of the opportunities offered by the Bill to empower themselves.