Advocate Wim Trengove’s proposals to the ad hoc parliamentary committee charged with crafting a constitutional amendment to allow expropriation without compensation (EWC) are damaging, naive and often mistaken on the law. (State must focus on redistribution in the land-expropriation issue, lawyers say, March 8.) Trengove is reported as proposing new legislation stipulating that “white” land ownership should be presumed the result of historical “privilege” – and thus liable to redistribution – unless the owner can prove otherwise. He suggests this rule be confined to farmland, leaving residential property, pensions, and other property rights untouched. But most farmers have bought their land, many since 1994 (roughly 5% of farms change hands annually). Most farmers also plough major amounts of working capital into their land each year. It is absurd to “presume” all white farmers have acquired their land through “privilege”. It is also naive to think this presumption would be confined...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.