/ 12 December 2012

Polokwane resolution #3: On willing buyer, willing seller

The willing buyer
The willing buyer

How much progress has the ANC made on their last set of goals before they look to setting new resolutions at the Mangaung conference? Look out for our series of reports on how the party's wishes have been achieved under president Jacob Zuma's leadership.

More resolutions:
Resolution #1: Political school
Resolution #2: Women's ministry
Resolution #4: One million-member party

Resolution: Polokwane resolved that the state and mandated entities should exercise "their legal right" to expropriate property in the public interest for public purpose. At the conference it was decided that compensation should be awarded in accordance with the Constitution, with special emphasis on equity, redress and social justice.

It also called for the abolishment of the market-driven land reform and immediate review the principle of willing seller, willing buyer to accelerate equitable distribution of land.

Progress: The government has discarded the willing-buyer, willing-seller policy.

On November 7, just a month before the Mangaung conference, the Cabinet approved the policy on the establishment of the office of the valuer general.

This office is an institution proposed in the green paper on land reform.

Spokesperson for the rural development and land reform department, Mtobeli Mxotwa, said this office would help the department in dealing with the problem of inflated land prices in the land reform and reclamation process.

He said the valuer general would decide the "equitable" price when there is a land sale using section 25(3) of the Constitution. This section states that the amount of the compensation and the time and manner of payment must be just and equitable, reflecting an equitable balance between the public interest and the interests of those affected, having regard to all relevant circumstances.

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has indicated that he would like to see the office established in the first quarter of 2013.

But state institutions are established through Parliament, and this might take longer than Nkwinti wishes.