Cape Town - The fire in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, which left almost 10 000 people homeless is a direct result of black people being dispossessed of their land, uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe said on Tuesday as he called for the expropriation of land without compensation.
"If land was not dispossessed we would not be finding our people living in such uncomfortable conditions," said Maphatsoe, who is also the deputy minister of defence.
"Hout Bay is an example [of what happens] if we don't take heed on the issue of land. We say this is the time we must tackle the issue and amend the Constitution," said Maphatsoe.
All that is required for the amendments is a series of community meetings to get support, he said.
"I think all of you who are clapping hands think that we need to expropriate the land without compensation," he continued
"Every year we have to deal with the issue of Hout Bay and it will never be addressed [until] we address the issue of land."