South Africa’s land reform plans gain ground

A review committee of South Africa’s parliament has adopted a resolution to pave the way for land to be expropriated without compensation.
It follows a lengthy process of public consultations, including a report which recommends a section of the constitution be amended.
In a sitting of the Joint Constitutional Review Committee (JCRC), three political parties voted in favour of revising the constitution to make it more explicit on the expropriation of land.
The ruling African National Congress enjoyed the support of opposition parties the Economic Freedom Fighters and the little known National Freedom party – and that was enough to press ahead.
The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, voted against the planned amendment.
This is unsurprising as they have repeatedly raised concerns about the calls for land seizures.
But the committee is satisfied they are serving the will of people.
Its chairperson, Lewis Nzimande, expressed his gratitude to the thousands of South Africans who participated in the public hearings.
Still, there have been concerns in some quarters over South Africa’s land reform plans – with some pointing to Zimbabwe’s disastrous seizures as a lesson on what not to do.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly assured investors and international partners that the redistribution of land will be done responsibly and within the law.
But this is just the first step in South Africa’s long journey to land restitution. SOURCE: BBC NEWS