“Real progress” must now be made on land reform, despite a change to the Constitution being rejected by Parliament and despite opposing views on how land reform must be done.
This is the general consensus of experts who spoke to Food For Mzansi after an amendment to the Constitution had failed yesterday to get the required two-thirds “yes” vote from MPs. A three-year-long battle between lawmakers culminated in 204 members of Parliament voting for the section 25 amendment – that would have allowed for expropriation without compensation – 63 short of the 267 votes that were needed.
Neo Masithela, chairperson of the African Farmers’ Association, tells Food For Mzansi that the land issue in South Africa is far from over. “Members of Parliament just delayed the inevitable. The land transformation matter is still going to be on the agenda of our society… because the majority of South Africans don’t have land.”
He feels that the ruling and opposition parties focused on their political differences instead of focusing on the fundamental issue of land.
“It’s a huge and unfortunate missed opportunity by members of Parliament to amend the Constitution to clarify the importance of ensuring that black people get land, not only for the agricultural sector but also for [other] development.
“If they can, one would actually call for them to put their differences aside and focus on what is best for the country,” Masithela said.
‘Progress is important’
Annelize Crosby, head of land and legal affairs at Agri SA, says that she is pleased with parliamentary proceedings. She hopes it will mark the end of a “radical approach to the land question” in South Africa.
“The outcome of the debate is a positive one for the future of South Africa. It is critically important that we now make real progress with land reform in a sustainable manner, and we believe that this should happen within the existing policy and legislative framework.”
Crosby cautioned that lawmakers must draft an agricultural master plan that will lead to job growth and investment in the sector, and that will expand participation in the sector.
‘Incentivise land reform’
Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, chairperson of Agri SA’s centre of excellence for land, agrees on the importance of progress with “effective and sustainable plans to make a success of land reform”.
“This must happen within the existing policy and legislative framework, including programmes such as blended finance and the agricultural and agro-processing master plan (AAMP).
“Attention must also be given to workable incentives for land reform, and the partnership approach should be strongly supported,” he says.
He further points to a 2017 report by a high-level panel led by former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, which found that section 25 does not pose an obstacle to land reform. It is rather hindered by other factors such as inadequate budgets, poor implementation, corruption and a lack of political will.
“The emphasis must be on effective implementation. The high-level panel’s recommendations should be revisited, and we need to support the blended finance programme and agricultural master plan.”
‘Rational and pragmatic approach needed’
Along with other experts, agricultural law expert Katlego Ngwane had predicted beforehand that the Bill would not pass. She explained that the ANC and EFF (who had proposed the Bill in 2018) had too many differences on issues such as state ownership (custodianship) of land.
Ngwane feels that parliamentarians should refocus their energy “Maybe what the government should be looking at is developing rural areas; creating employment in those areas to stop the movement of people that is putting pressure on the bigger cities.
“I think that if the government wants to create job opportunities, it must revive certain parts of the rural areas like the Eastern Cape, Free State and all those provinces that are poorer.”
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‘Irrational proposals by governing party’
Western Cape agriculture minister Ivan Meyer says this brings an end to the “irrational land proposals by the governing party”.
“It is not the existing policy that has failed to create meaningful land reform but rather a lack of political will, poor implementation corruption, and insufficient resources. This policy would not have addressed the slow pace of land reform or improved the previously disadvantaged livelihoods.
“What is now needed is a pragmatic and rational approach that will operate within the current constitutional provisions on land redistribution,” Meyer says.
‘Revolutionary approach needed’
Azanian People’s Organization (AZAPO) secretary for publicity and information Gaontebale Nodoba says they are unsurprised by the outcome and adds that the land question in South Africa can only be resolved through repossession of land from the white land usurpers.
“Such land repossession should be informed by a revolutionary, historical, ideological, economic, agricultural and socio-economic rationale – black people were robbed of their land.
“AZAPO contends that the white land usurpers obtained this land violently and illegally and therefore needs to be returned to its rightful owner.”
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