SAPOA has voiced its concerns following the recent motion by the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation. Their concerns are focused particularly on food security, agricultural production and the economy.
With the historical background of land ownership requiring urgent attention, it is critically important that South Africa navigates through the sensitivities with the bigger picture in mind, to ensure that the imbalance is dealt with and that the economy stability continues to be reinforced.
“SAPOA supports a land expropriation process where the rights of present and future land owners are balanced, with the need to ensure stability and economic growth” says Neil Gopal, Chief Executive Officer of SAPOA.
Section 25 of the SA Constitution enshrines the right to property, which is an international human right. It states that no one may be deprived of property, except in terms of law of general application, and no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property. Property may be expropriated only in terms of law of general application for a public purpose or in the public interest; and subject to compensation, the amount of which and the time and manner of payment of which have either been agreed to by those affected or decided or approved by a court.
“Key challenges facing South Africa is are extremely high levels of unemployment, structural poverty and inequality, and the question we need to address is how we resolve these critical issues through the process of land reform“.
“There is no doubt that we need to urgently reverse the racial inequalities in land resulting from our colonial past and the violent dispossession of indigenous people off their land. But we need more clarity and debate on the factors responsible for the slow pace of land reform, and we welcome engagement with The Constitutional Review Committee on these matters.” he adds.
“We understand that the country cannot afford to protect private property with such zeal that it entrenches privilege, creates further inequality and entrenches poverty. This is a recipe for instability. The guarantee of private ownership to ensure investment, in tandem with addressing the ills of the past, is fundamental to a stable democracy,” he concludes.
South Africa must be a nation that recognises a need for land reform and that accepts that such must be done being cognisant of property rights and a need for a thriving and competitive economy.
There will be a public participation process in the Constitutional Review Committee’s work, who are expected to report back on changes to Section 25 of the Constitution by 30 August 2018.
