S. Africa to act upon land reform responsibly: deputy president

Source: Xinhua| 2019-10-23 13:07:27|Editor: ZD
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CAPE DOWN, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will responsibly pursue land reform to address the skewed concentration of ownership by large corporations and monopolies, Deputy President David Mabuza said in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Mabuza reiterated that amending the Constitution to pave the way for land reform remains a priority for government.

The land reform seeks to diversify economy through re-industrialization, manufacturing and beneficiation, and achieve sustained inclusive economic growth.

"In other words, we are pursuing a land reform program for increased agricultural production, for integrated human settlements in order to address apartheid spatial planning, and for industrial use to support manufacturing and other means of production," said Mabuza.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture, tasked with coordinating and providing political leadership to accelerate land reform, is currently finalizing the government's comprehensive response to the recommendations made by the panel of experts on land reform, said Mabuza. The response will be presented to the cabinet for consideration and approval.

According to Mabuza, the panel supports the amendment of the Constitution to set out an unambiguous provision for the land reform, and the finalization of the Expropriation Bill to enable land expropriation within a properly guided legislative framework.

The government, he said, will proceed with the development and tabling of the Expropriation Bill currently underway to provide for the expropriation of property for a public purpose or in the public interest.

About 25 years after the end of apartheid, the minority whites still own most of the land in South Africa. The ruling African National Congress has been under fire for the lack of political will to address the land issue.

The land reform process has drawn ire from opponents who argue that land expropriation without compensation would drive away white farmers, threaten food security and harm the economy.

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