Land expropriation without compensation back in the spotlight
- Covid-19 has sidetracked numerous government initiatives including land expropriation without compensation
- However, the spotlight has since been turned back to the pressing issue
- An ad hoc committee will once again be established to amend Section 25 of the Constitution
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The Covid-19 pandemic has been hogging the spotlight for over two months resulting in delays on some of the most pressing South African issues.
The Citizen reported that the spotlight will once again be turned to amending the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation.
The National Assembly agreed two weeks ago the allow the ad hoc committee established to amend Section 25 lapse in favour of reestablishing it at a later stage.
The committee had been handed a deadline to conclude its work by the end of May. Briefly.co.za reported that the committee had been engaging in public participation when the Covid-19 crisis brought the motion to a grinding halt.
READ ALSO: Land expropriation: Final decision in the hands of one minister
The ANC called for the committee to be given until the end of October to complete its task, backed by the Economic Freedom Fighters in the process.
The Freedom Front Plus and the Democratic Alliance opposed the amendment, saying that the Covid-19 pandemic should be allowed to pass before reestablishing the committee.
National Assembly Speaker deputy Lechesa Tsenoli announced that while the committee would be established but a deadline determined at a later date.
Last year saw the National Assembly resolving to appoint the committee in a bid to amend the Constitution.
The Fifth Parliament's committee was unable to complete the same task ahead of the National Elections, failing to meet its 31 March deadline in the process.
While this is means that land expropriation without compensation is unlikely to become a reality in SA for 2020, it does provide some hope that it would be eventually resolved.
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Source: Briefly News
