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(TIMESLIVE) We're going to take land back, Malema warns

We're going to take land back, Malema warns
ANCYL chief urges end to constitutional clause to do away with price negotiations in expropriation
Aug 29, 2010 12:00 AM | By MOIPONE MALEFANE

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema wants the constitution to be changed to enable the government to expropriate private land without entering into price negotiations with owners.

Speaking at the end of the league's national general council on Friday, Malema called for the amendment of the property clause of the constitution to allow for speedy redistribution of land to previously disadvantaged people. "We are going to take (the) land back," he said.

"We will compensate, and that compensation will be determined by the state and not the owner," he said.

He said Section 25 of the constitution had the potential to prevent government intervention to drive redistribution of wealth to the people.

Malema said the ruling party should show courage and stop trying to appease opposition parties by not amending the clause.

"The ANC must not be afraid and permanently assure ugly (DA leader) Helen Zille that it will not amend the constitution," he said.

Malema said that if a person had a 700ha of land and the government offered to buy it for R1-million, "you don't have an option but to take that R1-million because that is what the state can afford".

"And refusing to take that million means we will take the land without paying you," he warned.

Malema said the decision to take land back was taken by men and women in the youth league who were strong. "We don't need compromised individuals. If you are compromised, take a back seat.

"We need women and men who can say to white monopoly capital we are taking over, we are redistributing," he said.

Malema said the willing buyer, willing seller principle was not working, and that it benefited those with money leading to land being owned by wealthy foreigners.

The youth league would push for the constitutional amendment and nationalisation of mines at the ANC's national general council next month in Durban, he said.

The organisation also wants the ANC to nullify the disciplinary action that was taken against Malema for defying President Jacob Zuma's instructions recently.

League spokesman Floyd Shivambu said the charges were not supposed to have been brought against Malema in the first place.

"All charges were dropped, and (he) was found guilty for comparing President Jacob Zuma to former president Thabo Mbeki. We always compare, and there is nothing strange about that," Shivambu said.

Malema instructed the delegates to go back to ANC branches and canvass the league's decisions. He said this would help to push its decisions at ANC national general council.

"At ANC NGC we need to constitute 70% of the delegation. We must be the majority," Malema said.

Labels: JULIUS MALEMA, LAND REFORM

posted by MrK @ 6:54 PM