Cape Town – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has slammed the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for its alleged plan to distribute “rotten”, “abandoned”, and state-owned land to South African citizens.
Ndlozi’s remarks came after opposition parties, including the EFF, on Tuesday rejected the controversial land expropriation bill.
The proposed law failed to garner the required two-thirds majority in the 400-seat parliament, with 204 lawmakers voting in favour and 145 against.
The ANC needed 267 votes to pass the bill into law.
Black South Africans were dispossessed of their land during three centuries of colonialism and apartheid, the system of white-minority rule that officially ended in 1994.
ALSO READ | South Africa MPs reject controversial land expropriation bill
When the ANC came to power in 1994, the government pledged to redistribute 30% of South Africa’s 60 000 commercial farms to black ownership.
But as of today, whites who comprise 8% of the population “possess 72% of (the) farms”, according to figures cited by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Only around 10% are owned by blacks, who make up four-fifths of the population.
Taking to Twitter, Ndlozi on Wednesday explained why his party rejected the bill.
“ANC wants expropriation of land without compensation only in certain circumstances. EFF wants expropriation of land without compensation, period.
When asked what constitutes “certain circumstances”, ANC says abandoned land, state land & rotten land. Who wants rotten land, abandoned land is already state land & it can already be distributed for free housing!
In short: ANC didn’t want to temper with Boers & WMC stolen land! https://t.co/1DcySwM9Rf
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) December 8, 2021
“ANC thinks we are fools, the ‘circumstances’ option means prime land will never be given to black people without compensation,” Ndlozi wrote.
He said: “When asked what constitutes “certain circumstances”, ANC says abandoned land, state land & rotten land. Who wants rotten land, abandoned land is already state land & it can already be distributed for free housing!”
In essence, ANC wanted to amend the constitution to ONLY expropriate rotten, abandoned, or state owned land without compensation.
NO! EFF wanted an amendment that empowers the democratic state to take land from Rupert & Oppenheimer (PRIME LAND) without compensation!
Get it?
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) December 8, 2021
A multi-party committee had for the past few years been working on the proposals, which would have allowed the state to take farmland from private owners without paying for it, and parcel it out to landless blacks.
The issue of whether to take land without compensating its current owners is highly divisive and emotive in South Africa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Additional reporting by AFP
