Parliament has instructed its Constitutional Review Committee to work out the framework on the issue of land expropriation without compensation and report back by no later than August 2018.
Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane says government calls on all stakeholders to come on board during this process and make a meaningful participation.
She says the racialisation of the debate is unfortunate.
“It is not correct to conclude that it is the white community in its totality is opposed. But is a number … it’s a particular group within, precisely because of the highly politicised community that we live in. There two extremes from both sides. There are extremes that just want to occupy land and pick and choose and invade land or occupy somebody’s land and staff. And there are those who will say you do not tamper with what I have had and demonstrate supremacy. But both extremes do not represent the South Africa that we live in, (not) even the South Africa we are aspiring to live in.”
Mokonyane also says the view of the cabinet is that the need for what she calls an “inclusive South Africa” is non-negotiable.
“If we have to deal with the inclusive society we can’t have black people (live in) mining dumping at the Meadowlands and we can’t have white people live in leafy suburbs and have a city which is called a self-made forest Johannesburg. We have to be inclusive. The freeway cannot divide Alex and Sandton forever. Therefore, the land that can integrate Alex and what you called Sandton must help to build this society we want,” she said.
Other political parties in Parliament are against a constitutional amendment which will pave way for land expropriation. They say the constitution and current legislation is suffice and therefore, there is no need to make constitutional amendments.
However, cabinet says the fear is unfounded because the Constitution has been changed previously.
“We will, of course, appreciate the consultations that will actually unfold, whilst at the same time not being steadfast to say the constitution is sacrosanct. This constitution of South Africa has been tempered with so many at times. So it is those things we need to appreciate. Where there is a need to do something for the good of the country, let us do that. Where there is a possibility to work within the confines of the constitution, let us also do exactly that.”
Mokonyane has assured South Africans that social grants will be paid by the 1st of April. Following arguments and counter-arguments between the parties involved, Mokonyane says there are contingency plans, should any glitches occur.
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