The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform has condemned the attempted land grabs in Nellmapius, east of Pretoria.
“Illegal occupation of land belonging to someone else is unconstitutional and regrettable in South Africa. The Committee views the actions alleged to have been committed by Economic Freedom Fighters members in serious light,” said Ms Phumzile Ngwenya-Mabila, Committee Chairperson.
“This is failure of leadership on the EFF as it is not comprehensible that leaders will encourage people and lead them in lawless activities. It is reckless for anyone to invade other persons’ property and claim expropriation; there has to be legal reasoning and public interest in order for one to expropriate,” she said.
The standoff in Nellmapius, an area along the N4 Highway, came about when people illegally occupied vacant land belonging to the municipality on Wednesday. It is reported that the alleged members of the Economic Fredom Fighters (EFF) wanted to establish a “Malemaville” village.
Ms Ngwenya-Mabila said the Committee had faith in government’s programmes aimed at addressing the skewed ownership of land, and asked that South Africans be patient with government’s land distribution programmes.
“The Committee encourages people to use the legally available platforms and processes to acquire land, be it for human settlements or agricultural purposes. Our country cannot self-destruct now on such a critical issue as land,” Ms Ngwenya-Mabila said.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
