Traditional leaders bill will facilitate land grabs by miners
Draft law entrenches the apartheid divide and makes a mockery of democracy by giving local chiefs complete say over their people
Most of SA’s newer mines are in the former bantustans, the homeland areas of the apartheid state. Somehow, in our democracy these “homeland” areas have remained intact. This is also where communities are protesting against mining, and where people have been deprived of land, their livelihoods, health and wellbeing. With legislation soon to be passed, it seems this will only get worse, and the law will weaken the democratic rights of some the most vulnerable people in society. The key piece of problematic legislation that stands to be passed is the Traditional Khoisan and Leadership Bill, which is in its final stage of enactment. The parliamentary process was finalised on February 26 and it has now been referred to President Cyril Ramaphosa for signature. This highly deceptive and potentially harmful piece of legislation appears well intentioned, but this is far from the case. Last-minute amendments rushed through parliament need to be exposed for what they are. The bill bui...
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