Unbeknown to most people, the public has until May 30, 2015 (the end of this week) to comment on a bill that seeks to vest all agricultural land in the State as ‘custodian’ for the people of South Africa.
This provision echoes the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002, under which all mineral resources have effectively been expropriated without compensation.
The new measure is called the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Framework Bill of 2015 (the Bill). It was gazetted in mid-March this year for public comment by 30th May, and has generally passed unnoticed by the media.
This bill contains a key clause stating: ‘Agricultural land is the common heritage of all the people of South Africa and the Department [of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries] is the custodian thereof for the benefit of all South Africans.’…
Dr. Anthea Jeffery is Head of Policy Research at the IRR
South Africa Today – South Africa News
