The people of South Africa will judge for themselves on who has their best interest at heart in amending Section 25 of the Constitution.
These are the sentiments of the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to expropriate land without compensation, Mathole Motshekga.
He emphasised that the committee does not require a two thirds majority to conclude its work before reporting back to the National Assembly.
Motshekga made the opening remarks at Friday’s virtual meeting between members of the Ad Hoc Committee and Parliamentary Legal Services.
“This Ad Hoc Committee does not need a two thirds majority to decide, it must therefore decide. It must therefore not collapse because one of the parties does not co-operate. We must conclude our business and report to [the] House.”
“Finally, the people will judge for themselves as to who are acting in their selfish interest other than the best inters of the people of South Africa as a whole. I believe that the programme committee had good reasons to give us a two weeks extension. Unfortunately they did this without the benefit of the report and recommendation contained before us,” adds Motshekga.
Ad Hoc Committee on Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution, 27th August 2021 https://t.co/LuDGOchJ6p
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) August 27, 2021
Meanwhile, DA member of the Ad Hoc Committee Annelie Lotriet took a swipe at Motshekga for blaming political parties for not co-operating to finalise the work on Amending Section 25 of the constitution.
“There was no intension to involve the committee. It was a decision taken by yourself and staff members. This is not how it should work. So, I take serious [exception] at the fact that you now accuse political parties for objecting to procedure.”
“You started with the constitution and public participation and we fully agree, but then it must be in terms of rules and what is expected of us as a committee and this has not been done. This committee has been sidelined, so I want to put it on record chairperson, what we are doing is un-procedural,” explains Lotriet.
