SOUTH AFRICA-POLITICS: LAND HUNGRY TASTE CHANGE

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

ACCADOGA CHILEDI

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 9 1994 (IPS) - VICTIMS OF FORCED REMOVALS IN SOUTH AFRICA CAN NOW RECLAIM THEIR LAND UNDER A HISTORIC BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT IN CAPE TOWN.

DAVID COOPER, DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT LAND AND AGRICULTURE POLICY CENTRE (LAPC), WEDNESDAY WELCOMED THE PARLIAMENTARY MOVE AS “AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE” IN BEDDING DOWN DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

“WE VERY MUCH WELCOME THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN SO QUICKLY, BECAUSE LAND RESTITUTION IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL CREATE MORE PEACE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE,” COOPER TOLD IPS IN AN INTERVIEW.

THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL BECAME LAW TUESDAY WHEN 212 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT VOTED IN FAVOUR. TWENTY SIX MEMBERS REJECTED IT.

LAND HUNGER AMONG SOUTH AFRICA’S RURAL AND URBAN DISPOSSESSED, AND THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CLOUT OF MORE THAN 60,000 WHITE FARMERS, HAVE TURNED LAND INTO ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY-DISPUTED AREAS OF THE COUNTRY’S TRANSITION.

THE NEW BILL MEANS THAT THE MILLIONS OF SOUTH AFRICAN BLACKS WHO SINCE 1913 WERE FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THEIR LAND UNDER APARTHEID, CAN LODGE CLAIMS FOR THE RETURN OF THEIR PROPERTY.

ABOUT 3.5 MILLION POOR AND DISPOSSESSED PEOPLE ARE TO BENEFIT UNDER THE GOVERNMENT’S LAND REFORM PROGRAMME. SOME 30 PERCENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND WOULD BE RESTRIBUTED WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

“THROUGH THE RESTITUTION OF LAND RIGHTS AND BY ENABLING UPROOTED COMMUNITIES TO REESTABLISH THEMSELVES WHERE THEY BELONG, THE BILL GIVES MEANING TO THE PROCESS OF RECONSTRUCTION, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT,” LANDS AFFAIRS MINISTER DEREK HANEKOM TOLD PARLIAMENT WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BILL.

LAND REDISTRIBUTION AND RESTITUTION ARE AMONG THE MAJOR POLICY COMMITMENTS MADE BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC), THE LEADING PARTY IN SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT.

COOPER SAID, HOWEVER, THE BILL WAS IN ITSELF NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE LAND QUESTION. “THERE NEEDS TO BE A VIGOROUS LAND REDISTRIBUTION PROGRAMME TO ACCOMPANY THE RESTITUTION PROCESS,” HE STRESSED.

“A MECHANISM HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR RURAL PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR NEEDS FOR LAND AND MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF LAND,” THE LAPC DIRECTOR SAID.