09 July 2001
The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the opportunism of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in misleading more than 200 desperate families to invade land in the Kaalfontein/Bredell area in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council since 02 July without any environmental impact study, infrastructure layout, and legal title deeds for the ownership of the land.
The SACP is fully cognisant of, and extremely concerned about massive land hunger and the extremely slow pace of land reform in our country. In this regard, the SACP has consistently called for an accelerated state-led land reform programme premised on the ownership of land rights by the state, state redistribution of land, state provision of infrastructure and equipment for productive use of land and popular participation in land reform. For the SACP, this land reform programme must be linked to a state-led overarching economic growth and development path and an integrated rural development strategy.
The main cause of land hunger in our country remains apartheid land ownership patterns where more than 80% of our land is owned and controlled by the white minority, in particular big private agricultural capital. Any progressive land reform programme which intends to reverse apartheid land ownership and lead to progressive land transformation must effectively deal with these selfish, greedy and exploitative land barons. And the PAC is to be found wanting in this regard.
The picture portrayed by all media reports received from, and statements made by the PAC over the last few days is that of complete and utter ignorance of what a progressive land reform programme is on the part of the PAC. In fact, the main message is that of downright populism, opportunism and demagogy on the part of the PAC and its leaders. What the PAC has done is already showing signs of shack-lordism which exploits poor people who are desperate for land and housing. For example, beyond the R25 paid by the families to the PAC, has the PAC informed the families that most of them could qualify for a state housing grant of R18 000 for effective land use and development? From reports available, it seems that the PAC has chosen not to inform the affected families about this state subsidy. Already there are many complaints received by local SACP structures about what the PAC intends to do with the deposits received from the families. According to a statement made by Thami Plaatjie, the PAC Secretary General, to ETV News on 04 July, the money will be used for legal defence of the community. On the same night, however, Motsoko Pheko, the PAC Deputy President claimed on SABC News that the money will be used for infrastructure in the occupied area. These basic contradictions and confusions at the highest levels of leadership of the PAC are one practical demonstration of PAC opportunism and its the lack of commitment to, and vision on a progressive land reform programme.
Of concern to the SACP as well is the apparent approach of government to seek to use strong-arm tactics to address the Kaalfontein situation. The SACP warns against this route as it will play directly into the hands of PAC opportunism and could possibly undermine future attempts at orderly and sustainable land reform. Judging from recent similar recent incidents, it is clear that there are forces in the South African Police Services which continue to disregard human dignity and human rights of poor black people. These forces must be exposed and dealt with in line with the government programme on land reform and human rights standards. Therefore the SACP calls on government to address the Kaalfontein situation in a manner which promotes accelerated land reform and respect for poor black people.
It is for all the above reasons that the SACP believes that this weekend's ANC-SACP-COSATU Alliance Land Policy Conference was an important moment in ensuring that we accelerate land reform in our country and that land rights revert to the state in the interests of landless people.
SACP local structures in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan area are already part of initiatives to address the Kaalfontein situation in favour of effective land redistribution to poor people.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel: 011 339 3621
Fax: 011 339 4244
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org