Communal Property Institutions (CPIs), community leaders, commercial partners, investors and other intended beneficiaries of the land reform programme are urged to make written and oral submissions on the review of Section 25 of the Constitution to Parliament by Thursday, May 31.

The review of Section 25 of the Constitution relates to the State expropriating land without compensation.

Nonprofit organisation Vumelana Advisory Fund urged all affected parties to make their submissions on the review before the deadline to diversify and provide views representative of the broader population.

Vumelana CEO Peter Setou said it was crucial for communities and CPIs in particular to understand the value of their involvement and the impact that their voice will have within these discussions.

“Their experiences can help put a sharp focus on current challenges and concerns within the land reform programme, including possible solutions. CPIs, commercial partners and investors and communities will provide vital insights that could help shape and guide the future of South Africa’s land reform, as they have first-hand experiences on what has worked and has not worked, and can help identify the gaps and help shape the land reform programme,’’ said Setou.

Setou further stated that discussions and deliberations on the proposed review of Section 25 of the Constitution should not be left to politicians alone.

He added that the critical feedback by communities and intended beneficiaries of the land reform programme was important in ensuring the process is a success.

The public hearing process on the expropriation of land without compensation is scheduled to begin on May 8 in Limpopo.

Setou concluded that there needed to be some level of information sharing with the communities leading up to the deadline for submissions in May 2018 to create an understanding of what the process entailed.

All written submission must be made by May 31, 2018. Parties that wish to make oral submissions are urged to send their requests to Pat Jayiya at pjayiya@parliament.gov.za or to call 021 403 3661 by no later than May 31, 2018.