PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma says that South Africa will change its laws to allow government to expropriate land without compensation – moving away from a previous position of ‘willing buyer-willing seller’.
This confirms previous reports of the proposed legislation changes being pushed through by the ruling ANC, as it shifts to a more aggressively populist approach to land redistribution.
Zuma last week sent a bill allowing state expropriation of land back to parliament because lawmakers failed to facilitate adequate public participation.
The bill allowed the state to capture land without owners’ consent, by paying an amount determined by the office of the Valuer-General.
The president is now advocating for changes where land will be taken with no compensation, Reuters reported.
“We need to take bold steps that will transform our economy, including land ownership, very fast,” Zuma was quoted as saying.
“We are busy amending (laws) to enable faster land reform, including land expropriation without compensation as provided for in the constitution.”
While Zuma said the process will take place in line with the Constitution, minister of rural development and land reform, Gugile Nkiwnti, said the necessary constitutional amendments should be undertaken to effect the process.
The shift from the ANC on the matter of land redistribution to a more populist approach has been criticised by the leading opposition party, the DA, who has accused the party of co-opting policies held by the Economic Freedom Fighters.
One of the pillars of the EFF manifesto is for land reform and allocation. EFF leader Julius Malema has said that where it governs it will take land without pay.
Malema was due to appear before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on Friday for calling on supporters to invade unoccupied land.