DA calls for joint Public Works and Agriculture/Land Affairs deliberations on Expropriation Bill; urges South Africans to make their voices heard during public participation process
Today marks the start of a series of public hearings on the Expropriation Bill, with hearings commencing in Beaufort West, and scheduled to continue across the country until the 18th of June. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is doing everything possible to ensure that members of the public are made aware of the details of the hearings, so that they can make their voices heard on a piece of legislation which is of profound importance to the future off all South Africans.
The DA's position on this Bill is clear: while we wholeheartedly support a sustainable and equitable land reform process, we believe that the Bill in its current form will severely undermine just such a process and, even more seriously, will threaten the foundation of South Africa's economic well being - the security of property rights.
The Bill constitutes a full-on assault on the some of the most fundamental aspects of the Constitution and should be of concern to anyone - whether they be urban or rural, black or white - who currently holds a right in property or intends to do so in the future.
Due to the importance of the legislation to South Africa's future economic wellbeing, the DA will formally request that when the Bill comes before Parliament in June, the matter is dealt with jointly by the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, as well as on Land Affairs and Agriculture.
This is because while the Bill has enormous implications for the security of property rights for all property owners - it will have an especially profound effect on the agricultural sector, at a time when soaring food prices have illustrated how important it is to ensure that this sector is able to survive and prosper.
Ultimately, the success or failure of the land reform process affects everyone in South Africa. It will be disastrous if as a country we fail to undo the injustices of past land dispossessions. However, it will be equally disastrous if government puts in place legislation which is manifestly unconstitutional and a clear threat to South Africa's economic future.
The DA will continue to do all in its power to ensure that land reform is dealt with within a legally sound and sustainable framework - the challenge now is for all South Africans who share this vision to make their voices heard.
Statement issued by Maans Nel MP, DA spokesperson for land affairs, May 19 2008
