ANC government to further restrict land ownership

ANC government to further restrict land ownership

The minister of rural development and land reform, Gugile Nkwinti, announced on Friday that the government would further restrict land ownership and warned that the country risk a choice between land redistribution and land expropriation.

Nkwinti said during his budget speech in the National Assembly that small, medium and large-scale landowners will be allowed to own 1000 ha, 2 500 ha and 5000 hectares of land respectively, while the government will expropriate the rest.

Nkwinti said the maximum ceiling on land ownership of 12 000 ha mentioned earlier by the government, is not on agricultural land but will be applicable on forestry, game and renewable energy farms. President Jacob Zuma mentioned the 12 000 ha ceiling during his state of the nation in February 2015. Zuma also said expropriation will be on the cards for South Africa in 2015.

Nkwinti said objections to the government’s proposal to impose a ban on foreign ownership of land are unfounded. “The basis of their rejection is that it will hinder foreign investment. We disagree with this. Our belief is that any investor, whether local or international, wants policy certainty. Once they understand the policy, they will adjust accordingly.”

According to Nkwinti, government cannot create conflict while serving the majority of people. We can only create conflict when we do not serve the majority, as the majority itself will do expropriation in the future.

Source – Maroela Media

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