The ANC has been told to speed up the process of land redistribution.
JOHANNESBURG – As the African National Congress (ANC) vows to push ahead with radical economic transformation, the party has been told to speed up the process of land redistribution, or risk having someone else claim the task.
The ANC has held a round table discussion to highlight some of the challenges and achievements in the country’s land reform process.
WATCH: ANC debates land reformation.
One of the areas of dissatisfaction has been the slow pace at which changes in land ownership are taking place.
Political analyst, Somadoda Fikeni, says addressing the issue of land ownership is central to the development of South Africa’s democracy.
“The land issue is the one most important issue; more than the rise that people enjoy.”
He says land redistribution is a matter of urgency, which the ANC should address swiftly.
“If the ruling party doesn’t move fast, other contesting political parties will amplify them.”
Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has also agreed that it’s taken too long to transfer the ownership of South African land to its rightful owners.
LAND REFORM MINISTER CITES PROBLEMS IN LAND REDISTRIBUTION
Nkwinti says the process of allocating redistributed land to its rightful owners has resulted in clashes in some cases.
He says land allocation during this pilot project has resulted in new disputes between indigenous groups.
The minister says shortly after government’s allocation of land in its “exception to 1913 pilot programme”, there have been clashes between cultural groups.
He says there have also been other cases where arguments erupt over the use of the allocated land.
Nkwinti says while there are several challenges in the land reform process, government wants to see all allocated land put to productive use.
(Edited by Refilwe Pitjeng)
http://ewn.co.za/2016/03/07/ANC-vows-to-push-ahead-with-radical-economic-transformation