Minister Nyhontso defends race, gender disclosure for land transfers

LAND Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has defended the new regulation mandating that individuals disclose their race and gender when dealing with property transfers in the country.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Nyhontso reassured parliamentarians that the regulation, which will be used for statistical and land audit purposes, would not be used to discriminate against any race.

“This regulation is going to be used to understand who owns the land, so that we are able to audit the land in this country.

“By the way, even if you are buying a car, even if you are in the bank, you still have a form. Even if you are at the Office of Home Affairs, you are asked this question. Are you an African? Are you white? Are you Indian?,” he said.

Nyhontso said the use of the form did not mean this was apartheid against others.

“The land must be known, who owns the land because this land remains the land of the African people,” he said.