Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/08/08

The issue of expropriation of land without compensation has dominated the public debate forum for the past year in South Africa.

First, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called for an amendment to section 25 of the Constitution, which addresses issues of land reform.

Now, the African National Congress (ANC) have joined the call for a public discussion regarding a possible constitutional amendment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the ANC will indeed support a motion to amend section 25 of the Constitution, allowing for land expropriation without compensation.

Political Analyst and ASRI Programme Director, Ebrahim Fakir told Radio Islam that there is no point in having a public discussion if you have already made the decision.

“The public hearings are meant to inform the parliamentary process, and this will be impacted by the decision of the ANC, and the ANC as a political party have a right to have a view.”

Fakir says the decision still has to go through the necessary parliamentary processes.

“It will be open for public debate whether you like expropriation without compensation or not.”

He adds that the problem was the manner in which Ramaphosa made the announcement.

“The announcement was made at 10’o clock in the evening, this is very much reminiscent of the cloak and dagger approach taken by President Zuma, and you know he used to make these crazy announcements of cabinet reshuffles and policy changes sometimes at 11 o clock at night.”

Fakir adds that Ramaphosa could have made the announcement the following day during the media briefing.

Listen to the full interview below:

“The Ramaphosa statement on expropriation without compensation raises a range of questions that point to the level of emptiness in the commitment of the ANC in relation to the landless poor. It is populist and represents a diversion from the hard thinking and planning that is necessary to address the dire plight of the landless and others who have claims to land” – Political Analyst Raymond Suttner