Government's re-opening of land claims is unworkable and just empty promises
The re-opening of land claims in the government's restitution program was a mistake and is unworkable, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on rural development and land reform said.
Dr. Groenewald said during the budget debate of the department of rural development and land reform that with the previous process, 93% of claimants preferred money rather than land which shows that they are not really interested in land.
"It is all about the redistribution of taxpayer's money and government thinks this is how wealth is created. To take from one to give it to another does not create wealth.
"The department's budget is R9,3 billion per annum. Of this R2,6 billion has been budgeted for land restitution.
"The government calculates that 397 000 new land claims will be received now that the process has been re-opened. It will cost taxpayers approximately R179 billion.