South Africa at a tipping point

10 May 2021

On Thursday, 6 May 2021, the Ad Hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights had another meeting in Pretoria. The Ad Hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights is an informal grouping of organisations, organised agriculture and agricultural representatives, civil rights institutions and opposition parties, as well as religious institutions. The Ad Hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights meets on a regular basis to discuss any policy frameworks that may harm or undermine property rights and to consider mutual views, actions and initiatives.

The point of departure for the day's deliberations was to discuss the ideological basis of the ANC's onslaught on property rights.  The Ad Hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights came to the conclusion that the onslaught had nothing to do with land reform - but rather aimed at implementing the ANC's policy of Radical Economic Transformation which would fundamentally and catastrophically change the entire economic order. It was agreed  by The Ad Hoc Group for the Protection of Property Rights that South Africa found itself at a tipping point and was experiencing a self-induced crisis due to state capture, corruption and severe misuse and mismanagement. The possible constitutional amendments of Section 25 and the expropriation bill which will affect property rights, are seen as serious and unacceptable violations of fundamental rights.

This is clearly a situation that can no longer be allowed to continue. It is imperative that civil society should play a bigger role and become more involved. It is encouraging that some civil society initiatives are already being planned with the aim to convince government to withdraw these bills. Litigation, local and international mobilisation, and various forms of protest are only some of the issues that were discussed in depth.

Finally, security issues with a direct bearing on rural security also enjoyed serious attention. It is becoming increasingly clear that civil society needs to be more focused on individual protection and on holding the state accountable for fulfilling this basic function, while highlighting farm attacks as a priority. 

Issued by Jan Bosman, Secretariat, Ad Hoc Group for Protection of Property Rights, 10 May 2021