MINISTER of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti reiterated the proposal that foreign land ownership be regulated in South Africa.
Speaking to journalists before tabling his Budget vote in Parliament yesterday, Nkwinti bemoaned the fact that a "sizeable chunk" of South African land was owned by foreigners.
He said the government was being lobbied to review its policies on foreign land ownership and argued this was a potential stumbling block to land reform and redistribution.
"You cannot ignore the fact that in South Africa you have got a sizeable chunk of land which is owned by foreigners," said Nkwinti, who pointed out that foreign landownership was not even allowed in countries such as Mozambique and China.
"Much as we want them to do so ... we want foreign investment in our country, but we also have to deal with the question that says how we share the land among the growing population."
He said it was a "privilege and not a right to own land in another country".
Nkwinti said he was crafting policy that would stipulate under which conditions foreigners can own South African land.
"If we succeed in persuading the nation on this, you will have freehold ... as part of that freehold will also be subjected to the limited extent.
"In addition to that you will have certain special conditions and obligations as a foreigner owning land in the country, meaning that as you buy or invest in our land you will have to take into account the fact that we are transforming and a greater part of transformation is one of transferring land from white people to black people," he said.
Turning to the thorny issue of land expropriation, Nkwinti said a task team formed by officials from his department and Public Works was finalising the Expropriation Bill and it would soon be sent to Parliament
"We are working together on that and we have a joint task team to deal with that question ... ourselves we are keen on this law," he said.
The bill was shelved in 2008 after objections that it was unconstitutional. The controversial draft legislation aims to allow the state to expropriate farms in the public interest, including for land reform.
Spotlight on land ownership
MINISTER of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti reiterated the proposal that foreign land ownership be regulated in South Africa.
Speaking to journalists before tabling his Budget vote in Parliament yesterday, Nkwinti bemoaned the fact that a "sizeable chunk" of South African land was owned by foreigners.
He said the government was being lobbied to review its policies on foreign land ownership and argued this was a potential stumbling block to land reform and redistribution.
"You cannot ignore the fact that in South Africa you have got a sizeable chunk of land which is owned by foreigners," said Nkwinti, who pointed out that foreign landownership was not even allowed in countries such as Mozambique and China.
"Much as we want them to do so ... we want foreign investment in our country, but we also have to deal with the question that says how we share the land among the growing population."
He said it was a "privilege and not a right to own land in another country".
Nkwinti said he was crafting policy that would stipulate under which conditions foreigners can own South African land.
"If we succeed in persuading the nation on this, you will have freehold ... as part of that freehold will also be subjected to the limited extent.
"In addition to that you will have certain special conditions and obligations as a foreigner owning land in the country, meaning that as you buy or invest in our land you will have to take into account the fact that we are transforming and a greater part of transformation is one of transferring land from white people to black people," he said.
Turning to the thorny issue of land expropriation, Nkwinti said a task team formed by officials from his department and Public Works was finalising the Expropriation Bill and it would soon be sent to Parliament
"We are working together on that and we have a joint task team to deal with that question ... ourselves we are keen on this law," he said.
The bill was shelved in 2008 after objections that it was unconstitutional. The controversial draft legislation aims to allow the state to expropriate farms in the public interest, including for land reform.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos