The bill that does away with the “willing seller, willing buyer” principle whenever the state feels a forced land sale will be in the public interest, will become law as soon as the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed it and president Jacob Zuma has found time to sign it.
The bill was passed despite objections from the DA, the EFF and other opposition parties in the National Assembly. Land is an emotive issue in South Africa, where most of it remains in white hands 22 years after the end of apartheid. It remains debatable if the passing of the bill is consistent with the aims of the National Development Plan or in line with creating the impression that the country can be an investment destination for foreign direct investment.
According to ANC Parliamentary caucus spokesperson Molotho Mothapo the bill is something most dispossessed South Africans have been waiting for. “It will serve to speed up our land reform process, because no more would the efforts of the state to redistribute land be frustrated by land owners who previously either refused to sell land or expected exorbitant amounts of money from government in order to give up land.”
Emerging black farmers have also welcomed the new provisions, but AfriBusiness says the bill legalises land grabs, and if signed into law, it’ll scare off investors.
“Can investors be sure of their property in South Africa in terms of South African law and foreigners? Is it safe to investors to invest in South Africa?” said Afribusiness spokesperson, Stefan Pieterse.
