Land repossession crucial for reconciliation, says Zuma

President Jacob Zuma File picture: Nic Bothma/EPA

President Jacob Zuma File picture: Nic Bothma/EPA

Published Mar 30, 2017

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Parliament – Land restitution without compensation was crucial for reconciliation in South Africa, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

"How do we have peace and stability if land [issue] is not resolved," Zuma said while responding to a debate in a sitting of the National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament. Zuma agreed with many of the traditional leaders who wanted that a Constitutional amendment was necessary to allow expropriation without compensation.

"We are not saying let us now go and take the land. We are saying let us amend the Constitution," he said. Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi was not convinced. "I fear if we deviate from the Constitution we risk reconciliation and even investment in South Africa," said Buthelezi.

He warned South Africa could go the way of Zimbabwe, with land grabs, divisiohn and a lack of social justice. Zuma rejected this and said there would be no land grabs. “No one is saying let us go and grab, no. We are saying let us do everything within the law,” he said Zuma.

One of the traditional leaders, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, said the expropriation of land without compensation should be prioritised as it was "in the public interest".

"If there is doubt, we appeal to you Mr President that you call a national referendum so as to test the public opinion on expropriation without compensation," he said.

"The indigenous people were brutally dispossessed of their land by the Dutch and the British imperialists without reparation..."

African News Agency

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