Limpopo land hearing draws massive crowd

The Marble Hall Community Hall, outside Groblersdal in Limpopo, is packed to capacity as Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee starts its four-day public hearings on Section 25 of the Constitution, dealing with land.

The committee has been mandated by the National Assembly to interact with South Africans, giving them an opportunity to express their views on the land question, including the possibility of expropriation without compensation.

The street leading to the Marble Hall Community Hall has been cordoned off, with police mending the entrance to the yard of the community hall.

A tent has been erected outside the hall – occupied by hundreds of members of the public in varying political party t-shirts.

Inside the community hall, community members have crammed together on chairs and on the floor.

Others have also handed in their written submissions after speaking.

Committee co-chairperson, Vincent Smith, has assured those in attendance that the hearing can continue up to mid-night to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to give their submission.

Listen below for some of the views expressed at the hearings:

Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee co-chair, Vincent Smith comments quality of debate at hearings:

Co-Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee says he is encouraged by the quality of debates and tolerance exhibited by the public in #MarbleHall #LandExpropriation #Constitution pic.twitter.com/kcog9LyVvn

— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) June 27, 2018