PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's government has demonstrated in many ways that it is a pro-poor and people-centred government.
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's government has demonstrated in many ways that it is a pro-poor and people-centred government.
In addition to meeting communities, Zuma has established a specialised ministry for rural development and land reform.
This shows that the ANC leadership is acutely aware of the need to transform the lives of the masses, who are mostly still trapped in poverty, disease and hunger.
This political will is commendable, but can our government decisively transform South Africa so that all citizens have an equitable share of the country's resources? The majority still live in the rural reserves that were demarcated by the 1913 and 1936 land acts.
The land is exhausted because of deforestation, erosion and overgrazing as people compete for space with their cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens - and all those animals are mere bones since they literally ate up what they should feed on.
On the other hand, large tracts of land are still owned by those who previously owned them and are flourishing.
The ANC government's land programme of willing buyer, willing seller is a total failure because those who own the land (which their forefathers confiscated from the majority), sell "their" land for millions of rands. Where is the government going to get the millions except to use the taxes that are paid by, among others, the poorest of the poor?
Tlou Setumu Makgabeng, Limpopo
Political will is not enough to uplift masses
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's government has demonstrated in many ways that it is a pro-poor and people-centred government.
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's government has demonstrated in many ways that it is a pro-poor and people-centred government.
In addition to meeting communities, Zuma has established a specialised ministry for rural development and land reform.
This shows that the ANC leadership is acutely aware of the need to transform the lives of the masses, who are mostly still trapped in poverty, disease and hunger.
This political will is commendable, but can our government decisively transform South Africa so that all citizens have an equitable share of the country's resources? The majority still live in the rural reserves that were demarcated by the 1913 and 1936 land acts.
The land is exhausted because of deforestation, erosion and overgrazing as people compete for space with their cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens - and all those animals are mere bones since they literally ate up what they should feed on.
On the other hand, large tracts of land are still owned by those who previously owned them and are flourishing.
The ANC government's land programme of willing buyer, willing seller is a total failure because those who own the land (which their forefathers confiscated from the majority), sell "their" land for millions of rands. Where is the government going to get the millions except to use the taxes that are paid by, among others, the poorest of the poor?
Tlou Setumu Makgabeng, Limpopo