Vol 03 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 01 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS independent property owners Parliament commits to Freedom Day – we must without male representation continue making South Africa and allows former residents a better country to live in for of apartheid homelands to all. Freedom was attained be free from poverty, benefit equally, like all South through bloodshed and great Africans, from land ownership sacrifices, and we must make conversions. it count for all South Africans. unemployment, racism Our task is to ensure that On this day, through the all our people enjoy their & sexism instruments at our disposal freedom with dignity. under the Constitution, The Presiding Officers (POs) of Parliament, the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) Ms Thandi Modise and the Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) Mr Amos Masondo, joined South Africans in commemorating Freedom Day in April. Mr Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa Ms Thandi Modise, Speaker of the NA & Mr Amos Masondo, NCOP Chairperson “NEVER, NEVER AND NEVER AGAIN SHALL IT BE THAT THIS On 27 April in 1994, 27 years faster than ever before. BEAUTIFUL LAND WILL AGAIN ago, millions of South Africans Freedom and security of the cast their votes in the first Parliament will continuously person, freedom of religion, EXPERIENCE THE OPPRESSION OF democratic elections as equals sharpen its constitutional belief and opinion, freedom ONE BY ANOTHER.” to select the government of oversight role in fighting of expression, and freedom their choice. This day marks the pervasive corruption to ensure of association are some - Mr Nelson Mandela liberation of South Africa and that public resources reach of the rights enshrined in its people from apartheid and the people, particularly the our Constitution in the Bill white minority domination. poorest of the poor, and not a of Rights. Twenty-seven few unscrupulous individuals. years into democracy, South Blood had been shed, people If South Africans are to say Africa and its constitutional suffered, too many lives were “we are free”, this must institutions continue to ensure lost under the cruel system include freedom from poverty, the protection of these rights. of apartheid. The call by the unemployment, racism, people for freedom could not sexism and other challenges. “Parliament will continue be denied any more. 27 April to ensure the restoration of is a day that brought hope The theme for the 6th dignity to all South Africans and boundless possibilities, as Parliament is “Following through its legislative people woke up on that day to up on our commitments processes, especially cast their votes and make the to the people”. As a vulnerable groups, women cross that would change their people’s Parliament, it is its and children. The passing of lives. responsibility to follow up the Gender-Based Violence on the promises made to the Bills and the recent Upgrading This year’s Freedom Day people in order to realise a of Land Tenure Rights Act comes when South Africa is truly free and democratic Amendment Bill (Ultra) are still faced with the Covid-19 South Africa. Our task is to among the interventions pandemic that has put South ensure that laws passed by Parliament is making to Africans under siege. The Parliament are aligned with restore the people’s dignity pandemic has exacerbated the vision of the Constitution and undo the past injustices,” and deepened unemployment and to continue holding the said the POs. and poverty. Furthermore, the executive accountable for its tide of corruption and theft of promise to restore dignity to The Ultra Bill seeks to restore government resources flows all the people of this country. the dignity of women to be The Constitutional Court of South Africa PUBLIC HEARINGS 3 Limpopo residents call on MPs to accelerate amendment of Expropriation Bill Editor Thulamane Local Municipality residents in Limpopo’s Thohoyandou District urged the Brent Simons Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure to accelerate the process to amend the Production editor Expropriation Bill [B23-2020]. The committee began public hearings on the Bill recently in the Mava Lukani municipality, writes Manelisi Ntsodo. Design and layout MIND TRIX MEDIA association in the Limpopo it must determine those province’s Greater Letaba instances where compensation Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula region, made a contribution in may be paid (clause 12 (a)) the hearings. It believes that and where no compensation Writers Mava Lukani, Brent Simons, expropriation or compulsory will be paid (clause 12 (c)). Abel Mputing, Sakhile Mokoena, acquisition of land has been Also, that this is a function Malatswa Molepo, Mlindi Mpindi, used internationally for of the government, not the Manelisi Ntsodo decades and said it supports courts, and if anyone has Photography the principle of equality. a grievance, they have the Mlandeli Puzi, right to approach the courts Zwelethemba Kostile Agri Letaba believes current and the courts cannot be the Distribution & subscriptions land owners should not ones to make determinations Jacqueline Zils be required to bear a of compensation or no Publisher disproportionate burden for compensation. Parliament of the Republic of the need for land reform in South Africa the public interest. It added In the Modimolle Local Printer that its main concern with Municipality, commercial Vision Enterprises The main objective of the created for you to express the Bill is that the proposed farmers’ associations Section Manager: Bill is to provide for the your views on how to amend definition limits the concept expressed concern about Publishing and Production expropriation of property the existing Expropriation Act to instances where the state amendments to the Shirley Montsho for a public purpose or in 63 of 1975 in order to provide acquires rights in property and Expropriations Bill. Ms Deidre Copyright the public interest, and a common framework in line excludes statutory limitations Carter, the Chief Executive INSESSION is is published by the Information and Content provide for certain instances with the Constitution.” that undermine the economic Officer of Agri Limpopo, Development Unit of the where expropriation with utilisation of property or informed the committee that Parliamentary Communication nil compensation may be In the Mopani Region in dismantle its content. the federation comprises Services of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. appropriate in the public Tzaneen, representatives 410 commercial farming All material published is interest. Traditional leaders of political parties and The danger of such definition, operations in the Limpopo copyrighted and cannot be and representatives from other organisations it argued, is that the province, providing 90 reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. various civic and political emphasised the urgency of government can expropriate 000 jobs for the province. organisations, churches and the implementation of the any land at any time without Commercial agriculture in EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES labour unions spoke with expropriation legislation. The Telephone 021 403 8738 compensation. This will Limpopo plays a strategic Fax 021 403 8096 one voice in calling upon the Economic Freedom Fighters severely limit property rights, role as the second largest E-mail committee to immediately (EFF) participants appealed to Agri Letaba said, and the contribution to food security in [email protected] Subscriptions deliberate on discrepancies the committee not to waste focus should be on the loss the country, she pointed out, [email protected] and make amendments to the more time by embarking on that the owner suffers, not on providing local, provincial and Post PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 Bill. the process of public hearings acquisition by state organs. national economic growth, for this Bill, as there is nothing development and export OUR IDEALS The Chairperson of the new to contribute. The overwhelming majority of earnings. Vision An activist and responsive committee, Ms Nolitha participants supported the Bill people’s Parliament that Ntobongwana, clarified a Members of the EFF argued in its current form, particularly Although Agri Limpopo improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures misunderstanding when that, instead of public clause 12 (c), which allows recognises the committee’s enduring equality in participants in the public hearings relating to the for expropriation without work to replace the current our society. hearing repeatedly confused amendment of the Bill, compensation that is just Expropriation Bill, the Strategic Objectives Strengthening oversight and the purpose of the hearings Parliament must embark on a and equitable in terms of the federation’s viewpoint is that accountability; with that of the Ad Hoc nationwide public awareness Constitution and in the public it cannot support the inclusion enhancing public involvement; Committee to Initiate programme that Section interest, for property and land of the possibility of nil deepening engagement in international fora; and Introduce Legislation 25 of the Constitution has earmarked for socio-economic compensation. Therefore, Agri strengthening cooperative Amending Section 25 of the been amended. Thereafter, reform and redistribution. Limpopo does not support the government; Constitution. She said: “We