Land expropriation without compensation will come under the spotlight at Joe Slovo in Milnerton in Cape Town on Saturday.
Among those to analyse the issue will be Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who wrote a book “The land is Ours”.
Other participants will be representatives from the Khoisan group, the First Indigenous Nation of Southern Africa, the PAC and the Social Justice Coalition.
The public gathering will be hosted by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
One of the organisers, Buntu Gwija, says discussions will focus on land history and the constitution.
“It shall be dealing in particular Section 25 amendment that is likely going to happen, in particular we want to conscientize people about the importance of returning the land to the rightful owners, Adv Ngcukaithobi will talk about land and the constitutionalism of property rights.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Maite Nkoane-Mashabane says government aims to acquire nearly 100 000 hectares of land for redistribution purposes.
She was delivering her department’s budget for the 2018/19 financial year.
Nkoane-Mashabane says people are buying into the redistribution of land, partly through the government’s Operation Phakisa aimed at improving service delivery.
“The department plans to acquire 98 100 hectares of land through proactive acquisition strategy. Financial partnerships and Phakisa, had many white land owners to say we are prepared to participate more into this.”
Nkoane-Mashabane says instances of land grabs are signs of frustration with the slow pace of land reform.
“To improve efficiencies in the land restitution program we commit to strengthen the capacity of the Commission on the Restitution of Land Rights. This will include consideration of a suitable operating model, a redesign of the claims process to reduce the unnecessary bureaucracy to fast track settlement of claims.”
