Zweli Mkhize differs on Zuma’s land expropriation call – report

ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize has reportedly argued for the country’s constitution not to be changed to allow for land expropriation without compensation, in stark contrast to President Jacob Zuma’s recent stance on the matter.

“I believe a lot of progress can be made within the existing constitution – but within the constitution, we [have] a lot that can be done and achieved,” Mkhize told Business Day on Tuesday.

Zuma last month called on “black parties” in Parliament to work together to change the constitution to give sanction to the expropriation of land without compensation. This despite the fact that the ANC is officially not a “black party”, but is defined as nonracial.

The party’s treasurer-general said the ANC would encourage government to ensure that it deals with the land question “within the constraints of whatever we have”.

The governing party’s policy discussion document on economic transformation proposes paying a premium price when buying land for reform; this is seen as ensuring that it adheres to the constitutional dictate for just and equitable compensation for land.

A just and equitable settlement meant that there was a degree of value attached to pricing and would ensure that there would be no “reckless seizure of land”, Mkhize said.

He also described the Economic Freedom Fighters’ offer of their 6% of the vote to the ANC in parliament to amend the constitution for expropriation of land without compensation as a “political tactic” used to put pressure on the ANC on a “very complex matter”.

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