Western Cape Premier Helen Zille was booed by ANC supporters at a function in the Western Cape ahead of President Ramaphosa’s handing of title deeds to members of the community of Ebenhaeser, Beeswater.
“This is a state function, paid for by the taxpayers’ money,” was her response to the bout of booing, The Times reported.
“It’s not a political rally. I know most of you are also on your way to an ANC rally in Citrusdal. You can have your rally there, not here,” she continued.
She told the hecklers that the “separation of the party from the state” is one of the foundations of democracy.
The event was held ahead of a land restitution ceremony which sees Ramaphosa hand over title deeds to the descendants of the Griqua community in the Western Cape.
Ramaphosa, alongside Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, will be giving the title deeds to the community on Satuday morning. He will be handing over title deeds for 3990 hectares of commercial farmland.
The official Twitter account for the presidency says this land is being given “to the direct descendants of the Griqua community that have established themselves on the farm since 1926”.
“Taking place under the theme ‘Restoring dignity through land reform’, the settling and finalising of land claims is part of the land reform programme which is part of the transformative principles of our constitution,” another tweet read.
Ramaphosa, speaking to the community ahead of handing out the title deeds, said it was the responsibility of his democratic government “to undo the bitter legacy of the apartheid and colonial past”.
The president said apartheid “degraded the dignity of the people” in this community, which he said government was now hoping to make right.
(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)
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