JOHANNESBURG, March (ANA) - The South African government will be guided by the country's Constitution on land reform and expropriation without compensation, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu reiterated on Wednesday.
“South Africa is guided by the Constitution on the land reform process,” Sisulu said in a statement.
"We regret that the Australian Government chose not to use the available diplomatic channels to raise concerns or to seek clarification on the land redistribution process in South Africa. Those channels remain open and available for all Governments to engage with the South African Government," the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) said.
According to international reports, Australian Minister of Home Affairs Peter Dutton said white South African farmers “deserved special attention” from Australia due to the “horrific circumstances” of land seizures and violence.
He reportedly told national British daily, the Daily Telegraph, Dutton said his department was "examining a range of methods to fast-track their path to Australia" on humanitarian or other visa programs.
“If you look at the footage and read the stories, you hear the accounts, it’s a horrific circumstance they face,” Dutton was reported as saying.
Dutton said an announcement would be made shortly and that his department was looking at ways to help “some of these horrific cases”.
On Wednesday, Dirco said that it was engaging with the Australian government on this matter.
They said President Cyril Ramaphosa; Rural Development and Land Reform Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; and Sisulu have said: "on a number of public platforms and also when engaging with different stakeholders that the process of land redistribution would be orderly, within South African laws and taking into consideration both the social and economic impact".
"We call on organisations such as AfriForum that are spreading incorrect information sowing panic and fear to refrain from doing so. The South African government has been very clear and transparent on a land reform process and the matter is now before Parliament," Dirco said.
"All stakeholders will be consulted and they are also encouraged to engage with Parliament. There is no reason for any Government anywhere in the world to suspect that any South African is in danger from their own democratically elected Government. That threat simply does not exist."
On February 16, Ramaphosa told the National Assembly: "We are determined that expropriation without compensation should be implemented in a way that increases agricultural production, improves food security and ensure that the land is returned to those from whom it was taken under colonialism and apartheid.
"Government will undertake a process of consultation to determine the modalities of the implementation of this resolution."
He has mooted faster land reform as part of a drive to boost the agriculture sector.
The ruling party -- the African National Congress -- adopted a resolution at its December elective conference where Ramaphosa became party leader to move beyond the willing seller, willing buyer principle to seize land without compensation in certain circumstances.
On March 4, Sisulu said that there was no need to "panic or be alarmist" over the expropriation of land without compensation process.
In a statement, Sisulu said she had noted a number of international organisations and individuals commenting on the parliamentary processes in South Africa in relation to land distribution.
"There is no need to panic or be alarmist. The President [Ramaphosa] has already said in parliament and in a number of public platforms while addressing various stakeholders that there is no need to panic; that the matter is being handled properly for the benefit of all South Africans; that views and concerns of all South African stakeholders will be considered during the parliamentary processes; and that parliament will take a decision for the benefit of all South Africans.
“There is a parliamentary process underway and all stakeholders, domestic and international, must respect that process and also take advantage of that process to make their input. The president remains committed to engaging all stakeholders during this process.
"The international community played an important role in the fight against apartheid and all its repressive and discriminatory policies. We invite members of the international community to continue supporting our efforts to reverse the legacy of apartheid," she said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
