ADDRESS BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE WESTERN CAPE LEGISLATURE, THE HONOURABLE CAMERON M. DUGMORE MPL, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 25 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EXPROPRIATION BILL AND HOW HELPFUL THESE WILL BE IN ADDRESSING THE PATTERNS OF LAND OWNERSHIP IN THE WESTERN CAPE.

24 JUNE 2021

Speaker,

On behalf of the African National Congress, I rise today to introduce this debate on the proposed amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution of our Republic, the introduction of the Expropriation Bill in the national parliament and to discuss, here today, with the representatives of the people of the Western Cape how these pieces of legislation will be helpful in addressing the dreadful patterns of land ownership in our own province.

In this the week, when we remember the Land Act of 1913, we welcome this important debate. 

Allow me to remind the House of the words of Sol Plaatjie on the 1913 Land Act when he said: [and I quote]: 

“Awaking on Friday morning, June 20, 1913, the South African Native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth.” [end quote]

Sadly, we believe that once again the ruling party of this province, the DA, tried to squash this debate and it was the courage of the legislature staff that ensured that we discuss this important issue today.

With regard to patterns of urban land ownership in the Western Cape, we have a situation where white South Africans own 70,7% of such land while Coloured South Africans own only 10,7% , Indians 8% and Africans 3,5%. The patterns are even worse when it comes to agricultural land. 

This is a ticking time bomb - these patterns of land ownership simply cannot go on as they have in the last twenty-seven years.

In fact the wars of conquest and dispossession started long before 1913. The descendants of the Khoi and the San in the main remain landless. 

Speaker,

The ANC wants to state emphatically the following:

* We will do everything, especially in regards to land reform and redistribution, within the confines of the law. This is why the amendment to the Constitution and passing into law of the Expropriation Bill is important. 

* The ANC will not encourage nor will we promote or tolerate the illegal occupation of land or the illegal confiscation of land. 

* Unlike what the DA is saying, the ANC government will not go after people’s property indiscriminately .

* The ANC will ensure that expropriation of land happens within a clear set of criteria that will do all of this within the stated objective of ANC policy to ensure that food security is maintained.

Expropriation without compensation is but one of a number of tools to advance the three objectives of the land transformation policy which are: restitution, redistribution and security of tenure. 

The amendment to the Constitution is about providing clarity about the circumstances under which expropriation without compensation will happen ie nil compensation . 

The Final Report of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture has provided clear proposals as to the circumstances in which expropriation without compensation should take place. 

The Expropriation Bill will also be aligned to these recommendations once the consultation process has been concluded. 

The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agarian Studies lent it support for the tabling the Expropriation Bill. According to PLAAS, the bill [and I quote]:

“represents an important step that could potentially give new impetus to the land reform process…”

Speaker, 

The ANC believes that the amendment to Section 25 and the Expropriation Bill will not only assist South Africa in addressing the land question, which remains integral to a process of decolonisation, but will also imbue the Constitutional imperative of addressing past injustices.

Let us work together to find each other. Like we did previously when we reached a political settlement and adopted our constitution in 1996. 

I thank you.