The country’s election mood is gaining momentum and so are the debates with political parties on issues confronting voters. With many daunting challenges facing residents, land remains an emotive issue.
Twenty five years into democracy, land reform remains one of the country’s most divisive issues.
Representatives of different political parties took part at a pre-election debate at the University of South Africa on Friday.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Chairperson, Dali Mpofu, says land is an asset that belongs to everyone and it must be managed like an asset with the government as instrument that must ensure it is distributed equally.
The African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus (FFPlus), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and United Democratic Movement (UDM) also participated in the debate.
Mpofu says the land will belong to the people because they can vote out a government every four years.
“Generations and other generations must enjoy the land. The idea of private ownership of land is the biggest crockery and insanity that we can think of. So, the land belongs to us and if we use the state simply as an instrument to make sure that it is distributed equitably.”
The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) has a different stance. The party says the economy under the ANC is in danger of reversing.
FF Plus Gauteng Premier Candidate, Anton Alberts, says if economic policies cannot be implemented due to a lack of money they mean nothing.
Alberts says land doesn’t need to be expropriated because the government already owns enough land that can be used.
Alberts says title deeds are the key to unlocking economic freedom for people living on land.
“There must be title deeds. 90% of the land in redistribution programs are still owned by the government and the title deeds are not given to the people. So, that needs to be fixed as well and then when it comes to the EFF, they are misleading the people.”
On the economy, United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa, says all stakeholders must meet to address the problems affecting the economy, as the country urgently needs a new macroeconomic policy.
He added that to grow the economy the country needs sector-based banks that specialise in providing funding for specific sectors.
Holomisa says the sophisticated nature of transactions creates an environment where corruption blossoms.
“Corruption can come in two forms, legal and illegal corruption. Legal corruption occurs when the elite build a legal framework without necessary breaking the law. A clear example sample is if you look at Chancellor House who partnered with Hitachi to build Kusile and Medupi. The ANC got money out of it, but if you look at the paperwork you will say this is above board.”
Inkatha Freedom Party Gauteng Spokesperson, Sibusiso Phakathi, says South Africans need to become economically independent and not rely on grants as their only income.
Phakathi says economic independence will help tighten the gap of inequality in the country. He says grants like the child support grant only provide support until the child is 18, and then the child and family are left without an income.
Phakathi says it is not sustainable. “The IFP solution says, you are a group,20 women, and you calculate, R400 multiply by 12 a year and you say you get an amount and you say, times 18 years. That amount of money is enough to give skills to the mother of the child, to create a business to subsidise her and to shy away from dependence.”
The DA’s Refilwe Ntsekhe says group-based politics are going to lead to worldwide disaster. She says it started with race and next it might be languages and then religion. She says the DA does not support this.
Ntsekhe says cronyism created corruption and to get back on track, all South Africans must adhere to the rule of law.
“We believe in one South Africa for all and we believe that everybody must be together in society. For South Africa to survive, it is essential that we get more people towards the rule of law, which is where the DA is standing and we are standing head-fast. We will not move from that.”
The ANC says they are already in an alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and South African Communist Party (SACP) and believes they will get an overwhelming mandate from the voters and therefore, coalition governments are not on the agenda.
“What we are asking for is a group consciousness to make proper decorum to undermine unemployment in the country. And we think based on our commitment through our president , it will give us the overwhelming mandate to govern South Africa as we have governed for the last 25 years,” says ANC’s Alwyn Botes.
