Johannesburg - The traditional leadership group, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) says it will hold a land summit with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to discuss the controversial issue of land.
The two organisations recently held a meeting where they ironed out their differences on how to approach the issue of the expropriation of land and the role traditional leaders.
Contralesa’s Zolani Mkiva said the organisation agrees with the EFF that Section 25 of the Constitution should be changed to make way for expropriation of land without compensation.
The organisations also agreed that the land should be held under the custodianship of the state.
“We are all confident that this issue will be resolved through robust debate. Contralesa and the EFF have agreed that the Rural Development is the best way to develop the economy. Tax policies must be in place to incentivise rural development,” said Mkiva.
“One of the key areas of the work stream will involve clarifying between land distribution, agrarian reform and land tenure. These issues constantly arise and they must be adequately ironed out.”
Mkiva spoke in support of the Ingonama trust saying the land currently under that trust, which was put in place in early nineties, should not be seen as land that was stolen.
He said the focus should be on land that was stolen under Apartheid and colonisation.
On Wednesdy, at a land imbizo in KwaZulu-Natal, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini criticised the negative discussions about the Ingonama trust and the possible threats that it may be dissolved.
The King threatened that there would be “war” if the land under the trust was touched by the government.
There were even calls for KwaZulu-Natal to be declared an independent state.
EFF leader Julius Malema defended Zwelithini’s statements and said he had the right to speak his mind and share his opinion on the land debate.
The issue of land has become a tense topic in the country since Parliament voted in favour of amending Section 25 of the constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation.
Members of Parliament are currently travelling the country holding public hearings of the feasibility of amending the constitution.
The ANC recently held its own land summit where it decided to go ahead with expropriating land without compensation.