Julius Malema state capture

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 08: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema addresses the media on March 08, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Addressing the issue of the expropriation of land without compensation, Malema said it was not a call for war but instead a debate, and that those who disagreed were more than welcome to put their views forward but would have to convince the EFF, ANC and the National Assembly. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)

Land expropriation: Preliminary committee report, 59% against amending Constitution

Vincent Smith, co-chairperson of the committee, confirmed that his organisation had already reviewed 149 000 out of 700 000 submissions.

Julius Malema state capture

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 08: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema addresses the media on March 08, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Addressing the issue of the expropriation of land without compensation, Malema said it was not a call for war but instead a debate, and that those who disagreed were more than welcome to put their views forward but would have to convince the EFF, ANC and the National Assembly. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)

The Constitutional Review Committee has started tallying written submissions regarding the issue of land expropriation without compensation.

But, according to IOL, the committee has been taken to task over its preliminary findings, which go against the populist rhetoric held by both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Written submissions on land expropriation tell a different story

Vincent Smith, co-chairperson of the committee, confirmed that his organisation had already reviewed 149 000 out of 700 000 submissions.

The kicker: 89 000 people, out of the 149 000 written submissions already reviewed, are not in favour of having the Constitution amended to allow for land expropriation without compensation.

This has proponents of rapid land reform fuming.

President Cyril Ramaphosa initially stated that the public review process had revealed overwhelming support for Constitutional amendments.

EFF Commander in Chief, Julius Malema, also built his entire position on land reform on the notion that the majority of South Africa was in favour of land expropriation without compensation.

EFF outraged by preliminary findings

But the preliminary results show a different story – as was earlier expected.

Now, the company tasked with reviewing all written submissions is being called in to answer by the EFF.

EFF representatives have accused the company of pushing a certain political narrative and operating outside of its stringent mandate.

Smith, who is also an ANC MP, confirmed that the company would be called in to explain its preliminary findings, saying:

“We will get the terms of reference on the company. We will call them next week Wednesday.”

In an earlier report, questioning whether the ANC had fumbled the submissions process, it was revealed that the public hearings process attracted 24 000 people, with only 2 700 of them officially offering oral submissions on the issue of land expropriation without compensation.

This, compared to the 700 000 written submissions received.

In a panic, the ANC’s top brass slammed members involved with the review committee for focusing all their energy on the public hearings process, while neglecting written submissions.