Public hearings on land expropriation move to E. Cape

The public hearings on land expropriation without compensation moves to the Eastern Cape this week. The roadshow will cover four towns in the province. It’ll kick off in Mthatha on Monday.

Residents and some traditional leaders have already staked their claim. They want communities to own the land.

The growing Mthatha West area, Mandela Park is named after the late statesman. Nelson Mandela addressed a huge rally in the area after his release in 1990. But residents have for years been at loggerheads with the local municipality.

They’ve even engaged in what’s been termed land grabs. Locals are keen on amending the expropriation of land provisions in the Constitution. But their support comes with a condition.

“We can’t give this land to the government because this how we feed our kids. Especially in these stands we are occupying. I have been here for 14 years now come rain or sunshine but I don’t mind as I am my own boss and providing for my own children and I send them to school through this business,” said a resident, Nomangesi Panca.

“From back in the days the land was owned by the traditional leaders. The kings gave the land to the people I am a new resident here but I also have a place to stay so I have a request that the land remains to the traditional leaders. You see the mothers here are selling chicken to feed their kids, “added another resident, Bheki Dlamini.

The Eastern Cape has many traditional leaders,many of whom don’t want the state to be the custodian of the land.

Chief Mthawelanga Ndamase of Amampondo Asenyandeni Kingdom says “We support the initiative of government to expropriate land without compensation but however we don’t support the notion that land must be given to the state. The land must be given directly to the people and must be registered under traditional council.”

The chief’s stance is at odds with what Contralesa has proposed. The UDM has also weighed in on the land issue.

“Land claims in areas where you have black South Africans living in those areas that is the 13% is not an issue. We should be focusing more on the land which was taken before the cut-off date of 1910 because if you talk about land claims starting from 1910 and you leave the other land which was taken before 1910, that means 60 per cent of the land of South Africa will never be taken away from the people who are supposed to give,” said UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa.

Holomisa was speaking on the sidelines of the UDM’s Provincial General Council in Mthatha. It’s where the first land hearing in the Eastern Cape will take place on Monday.

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