Land expropriation without compensation has been the topic of discussion around the country, producing much uncertainty and highlighting existing racial tensions.
On Monday the local Democratic Alliance (DA) tackled the issue head-on and pleaded for support from Dolphin Coast residents to fight the motion.
Speaking in Chaka’s Rock at Meander Manor, DA shadow minister of trade and industry Dean Macpherson accused the EFF of fueling racial division and fear among South Africans, and the African National Congress (ANC) of supporting their agenda.
Also read: Expropriation without compensation – what does it mean?
Parliament passed the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) motion to consider the review and amendment of section 25 of the constitution’s current land acquisition act last month.
A review committee, made up of the different political parties, is set to deliver a report on the motion to amend the act in August this year.
Macpherson said people needed to be aware that if passed, the motion would impact all races, not only white people.
His interpretation of expropriation without compensation was that it would mean total state ownership of all land.
“No title deeds, no ownership, no security for the people. All land will be owned by the state and distributed to who they think should have land.
“White people only own 2.6 million properties in this country while black, Indian and coloured people own 7.6 million.
“Julius Malema believes the best way to advance expropriation without compensation is to actually expropriate property from black people too.
“To take what was dispossessed from them once before and to do it again. And somehow that is the progressive, radical change that SA needs?”
Referring to Zimbabwe, Macpherson said he did not know of an economy that survived land expropriations without compensation.
He dismissed the motion as a fancy.
“The EFF seems to think that people of colour want to pick up sticks and be farmers when this is not the case.
“While the ANC is trying to find their footing and figure out why they were being dictated to by a party in overalls, the DA is not going to sit back and watch this roll out.
“We need the people’s support to fight this in parliament.”
Despite changes to the act still pending, fears of land grabs are rife with messages circulating on social media indicating that Umdloti, Umhlanga, Ballito and a number of other areas would face hostile land grabs.
Umhlali SAPS spokesperson captain Vinny Pillay said these messages were not being dismissed and public open spaces were being monitored.
Weighing in on the issue, economist Dawie Roodt, told the Courier that section 25 of the constitution did not only apply to land.
“It is a broad term that includes any asset that has value to be expropriated and redistributed to previously disadvantaged people.
“Although the ANC said they would support the decision only if land expropriation does not affect food security, agriculture production and economic growth – there is no possibility that it may.
“If the land is redistributed to the wrong people who do not of the skills and knowledge to maintain it, there is no guarantee of good agriculture production and food security and that directly impacts economic growth.”
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