Agri SA says it will continue to pursue all credible avenues to protect the interests of farmers and farming communities, including challenging an amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution in court.
The National Assembly adopted a report on Tuesday, recommending that the Constitution should be amended to explicitly provide for land expropriation without compensation.
The report, compiled by Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee, was supported by 209 MPs and opposed by 91, following a robust debate in the House.
Agri SA's Head of Land, Annelize Crosby says the decision by parliament is not the final step in the process, and there are time and legal remedies remaining to halt an amendment.
She says the protection of property rights is absolutely critical to investment, food security and sustainable agrarian reform.
Crosby says Agri SA maintains that very negative consequences may follow any major change to section 25, including the negative impact on land values, that in turn, endangers production finance to commercial and emerging farmers.
Committee co-chairperson Stanford Maila berated opposition parties for insisting that written submissions which were overwhelmingly against an amendment should be given more weight than public hearings in provinces which showed support for an amendment.
"Though it is of no significance, 65% of the submissions were against amending the Constitution," said Maila.
EFF leader Julius Malema said those opposed to land expropriation without compensation were protecting white privilege at the expense of black people.
The DA confirmed that it would head to court to challenge the report.
The Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, Congress of the People and African Christian Democratic Party all opposed the recommended amendment.
African News Agency (ANA)
