The people of the Eastern Cape are having a chance to give their views on whether or not they support expropriation of land without compensation.
The land debate has been characterised by a mixed bag of emotions and, sadly, has exposed how less tolerant people are of another.
That people have a different view on the matter should not result in degeneration into chaos.
It is possible to have a passionate debate in an orderly manner.
One would ignore the irresponsible public utterances by the ANC and EFF at one’s own peril.
EFF leader Julius Malema has made callous comments that people should illegally occupy private land.
This is totally unacceptable and irresponsible.
With the ongoing sporadic land invasions in some parts of the country, politicians must be held accountable for encouraging desperate people to occupy private land illegally.
It is now quite clear that the EFF and ANC’s illogical obsession with expropriation of land without compensation is both opportunistic and populist.
It is not necessarily premised on the genuine intention to truly address land reform.
What the public has witnessed has been nothing short of reckless statements which only seek to divide and pit South Africans against each other.
What is needed is more funding for the land redistribution programme and more capacity in the department and the government to release public land for land reform and housing.
We need an alternative that provides ownership as opposed to state custodianship of the EFF and ANC.
It is only through the expansion of ownership to black South Africans that true justice can be accomplished.
I’m a proud DA supporter and it is the only rational voice in these public land hearings.
This level of maturity is quite evident in its clear and concise communication on the matter.