Government's re-opening of land claims is unworkable and just empty promises

The re-opening of land claims in the government's restitution program was a mistake and is unworkable, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on rural development and land reform said.

Dr. Groenewald said during the budget debate of the department of rural development and land reform that with the previous process, 93% of claimants preferred money rather than land which shows that they are not really interested in land. 

"It is all about the redistribution of taxpayer's money and government thinks this is how wealth is created. To take from one to give it to another does not create wealth.

"The department's budget is R9,3 billion per annum. Of this R2,6 billion has been budgeted for land restitution.

"The government calculates that 397 000 new land claims will be received now that the process has been re-opened. It will cost taxpayers approximately R179 billion.

"I would like to know how the ANC government is planning to make a success of this process with only R2,6 billion annually being budgeted for a process that will cost R179 billion. That means that it will take approximately 70 years to finalise all the claims. It is a lifetime.

"The re-opening of the restitution claims was a big mistake. It creates uncertainty. Is this not just a case of the king being given the opportunity to claim land?" Dr. Groenewald asked.

Various allegations of land being "stolen" were made and Dr. Groenewald said these comments should be stopped. "It it is said that white people stole land, it can be said that black people stole land from the Khoi and San. Nobody stole land from anybody else and this type of allegations does not promote good relations in South Africa and should be stopped now," Dr. Groenewald said.

Two EFF ordered to leave Parliament in debate on land

It can no longer be tolerated that it is continuously said in Parliament that white people stole black people's land. What can be said then is that black people stole the land of the Khoi and San, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on rural development and land reform said.

These comments of Dr. Groenewald, which were made in reaction to the repeated comments of, in particular the EFF and the ANC, that white people stole land, elicited strong reaction from two EFF members and Dr. Groenewald was repeatedly called a thief and liar.

After repeated warnings they refused to withdraw the comments and were asked to leave the chamber.

Dr. Groenewald said afterwards that people should stop alleging that one group stole another group's land and pointed out that even the Minister, Gugile Nkwinti, speaks in a more responsible manner of, amongst others, wars which were fought in the country about land.

"There cannot be any sensible discussions about land if white people are continually being accused that they are land thieves. This must stop," Dr. Groenewald said.

Statements issued by Dr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Rural Development and Land Reform, July 23 2014

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