WENDY MOTHATA
PRESIDENT resident Cyril Ramaphosa says that South Africa needed to accelerate the land redistribution programme to realise the country’s potential.
He was addressing a large crowd of party members gathered at the 110th-anniversary celebration held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Ramaphosa said it was fundamental to accelerate the renewal and rebuilding of the ANC “so that it is a more effective and trusted agent of change.”
Delivering his January 8th statement, he announced that the National Executive Committee (NEC) has agreed to establish an “ANC renewal commission”.
Ramaphosa said that the ANC’s renewal is critical and that the party would continue to address the issue of land and restore it to its rightful owners.
“Central to the formation of the ANC 110 years ago was the need to respond in a united manner to widespread colonial land dispossession. Redressing this historical injustice and returning the land to the people is a critical component of the ANC’s fight for social justice and the elimination of the vast inequalities created by apartheid. Such land reform will promote economic development for the benefit of all.”
Ramaphosa said, “One of the elements of this effort is the implementation of our 54thNational Conference resolution on the expropriation of land without compensation. The implementation of this resolution will continue despite the refusal of other parties in Parliament to support the proposed amendment of section 25 of the Constitution.”
Ramaphosa said the elected representatives will finalise Expropriation Bill, “Through our elected public representatives we will work to finalise legislation such as the Expropriation Bill, the Land Court Bill and a range of other instruments to ensure more land is returned to the people and at a much faster rate.”
“In support of the rural economy and transformation in the agricultural sector, we urge the government to work with all partners in agriculture and the agro-processing value chain and support the work to strengthen the Land Bank and other financing instruments,” he added.
Ramaphosa further addressed the climate change challenges and the necessity for South Africa to switch to sustainable energy.
“Climate change presents a range of geo-political, security, economic and social risks and opportunities for our country and the world. We must be resolute in ensuring that we engage with these risks and opportunities in a manner that advances South Africa’s national and developmental interests in all respects,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the success of the country’s economic recovery depends largely on the ability to effectively manage COVID-19.
“The success of our economic recovery depends to a large measure on our ability to effectively manage COVID-19, as this virus is likely to remain part of our lives for the foreseeable future. In doing so, we will continue to be guided by scientific and evidence-based approaches,” he added.
- Inside Politics
