Constitutional amendment won't address poverty issues
Farmer's Weekly|March 27, 2020
Prof Ruth Hall of the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies at UWC says that the call to change Section 25 of the Constitution in an effort to allow for expropriation without compensation will not secure equitable access to land for all South Africans.
Prof Ruth Hall
Constitutional amendment won't address poverty issues

"More than two years ago, Parliament passed a motion to establish the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to look into amending the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation.

Public input was invited, and over 600 000 written submissions were received, with two-thirds being against any constitutional amendment. But the tone of engagements at the hearings was very different, with the vast majority of participants, mostly black South Africans, being strongly in favour of it.

The debate came down to a proxy debate about the legitimacy of our economic system and the existing property rights dispensation.

Political theatre

I first used the term ‘political theatre’ in 2013 to illustrate how these events unfolded. Then, during the centenary of the Natives Land Act, the ANC pushed for reopening land claims, in response to the EFF’s arrival on the scene and evidence that land reform was not working.

Political theatre describes the disjunction between the way things are talked about and realities on the ground. Parliamentary debates of the past two years have made it sound as if the state has been trying since 1996 to expropriate properties, but has been prevented by the courts from paying little or no compensation. Political theatre also suggests that the theatrical effect has become the prime objective.

EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION

This story is from the March 27, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 27, 2020 edition of Farmer's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FARMER'S WEEKLYView All
Africa goes from net carbon sink to source
Farmer's Weekly

Africa goes from net carbon sink to source

New research shows Africa's impact on greenhouse gases and the need to focus on climate-smart agriculture

time-read
3 mins  |
May 03, 2024
Ireland potato farmers unable to complete planting
Farmer's Weekly

Ireland potato farmers unable to complete planting

Irish potato farmers have reported a delay in harvest and said that the UK might have to prepare for shortages of the produce. The shortfall is due to extreme wet weather during their planting season.

time-read
1 min  |
May 03, 2024
Zero-residue fresh produce a reality
Farmer's Weekly

Zero-residue fresh produce a reality

Retail giants are calling for caution when using biologicals and chemical pesticides,

time-read
2 mins  |
May 03, 2024
Big boost for mohair producers in Eastern Cape
Farmer's Weekly

Big boost for mohair producers in Eastern Cape

A collaboration between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) has resulted in a R1,4 million injection into four emerging Angora goat farming operations in the Eastern Cape.

time-read
1 min  |
May 03, 2024
KZN Youth Show at Roval Agricultural Exhibition
Farmer's Weekly

KZN Youth Show at Roval Agricultural Exhibition

The KZN Youth Show will run from Friday, 24 May to Sunday, 26 May at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg.

time-read
1 min  |
May 03, 2024
Hemp permits and irrigation system handed over
Farmer's Weekly

Hemp permits and irrigation system handed over

In an effort to fast-track the entry of rural farmers into the cannabis and hemp industries, KwaZuluNatal Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Super Zuma, visited the Shukasibheme Project in Mbazwana, a co-operative in Mseleni, uMhlabuyalingana in the Umkhanyakude District, to hand over cannabis and hemp permits as well as a borehole and irrigation system.

time-read
1 min  |
May 03, 2024
Meet some of the heroes behind avitourism destinations
Farmer's Weekly

Meet some of the heroes behind avitourism destinations

Exploring what the Garden Route offers birdwatchers, Brian Berkman discovers some special people who run hospitable places to meet and see a variety of species.

time-read
4 mins  |
May 03, 2024
What the Citrus Academy offers aspiring producers
Farmer's Weekly

What the Citrus Academy offers aspiring producers

Cobus du Plessis takes a look at the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa's Citrus Academy and how it is helping to develop aspiring farmers in the sector.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 03, 2024
Natural-born killers of the insect world
Farmer's Weekly

Natural-born killers of the insect world

The Myrmeleontidae family of lacewings from the Neuroptera order of insects consists of about 2 000 species of which 125 are found in South Africa.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 03, 2024
Seeder kick-starts vegetation in challenging environments
Farmer's Weekly

Seeder kick-starts vegetation in challenging environments

Dr George Craven of Noorspoort, Steytlerville, in the south-eastern Karoo, is successfully using a home-built 'bedstead seeder' to re-establish veld plants in an arid area, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 03, 2024