Clashing views at Gauteng land hearings

Gauteng residents expressed different strong views on whether Parliament should amend section 25 of the Constitution and expropriate land without compensation.

A committee set up by Parliament was given the task of reviewing Section 25 of the Constitution to make it possible for the state to expropriate land without compensation.

Parliament invited the public to participate in the debate, through a series of hearings and by engaging with the committee.

So far the hearings have taken place in KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The committee was this week listening to the views of South Africans in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.

One of the Gauteng hearings took place at a packed Westonaria Civic Centre which saw people queueing from as early as 7am to express their views.

Some members of the community staged a peaceful protest in efforts to have their voices heard.

Speaking to Vuk’uzenzele Keamogetswe Monedi (26) said land should be expropriated without compensation, to empower black people and restore their dignity.

“I’m here not to stand up for myself but for every black person out there as well. This land is ours. It was forcefully taken from us and now we want it back,” said Monedi.

He added that if the Constitution is amended and land is expropriated he would like to start a property investment business and create job opportunities for the youth.

He dreams of building a lasting legacy, not only for his children but for other people as well.

Kelebogile Ikalageng on the other hand had an opposing view and stated that land should be expropriated but with compensation.

“I think that our economy would suffer if land is expropriated without compensation.”

She said if section 25 of the Constitiution is amended young people must be given training on how to work the land and how to farm.

 Meanwhile farmer Annekie Anderson said land expropriation will cripple farmers who owned land acquired before the apartheid regime.

“The government must leave the farms to people who know what to do with them but should government resort to expropriating land, then they should pay our debt with the banks,” said Anderson.

The committee will continue to listen to the views of communities in the West Rand for the rest of this week.