The UDM added its voice to the ongoing political overtures and debate on land reform in South Africa, saying it is seeking a wholesale reform of land in SA.

The leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Bantu Holomisa, says the constitutional review process in Parliament involving the feasibility of land expropriation without compensation, is “an opportunity for all South Africans to come forward instead of making noise and shouting all over the show. This is what we have been saying all these years, to say we need to converge under one roof and finish the job we didn’t finish.”

Speaking to Political Analysis South Africa on Monday, 12 March, Holomisa explained, “Phase one was political freedom and phase two should be economic. Unfortunately, unless you are a fool, you can’t emancipate your people without them having their own land or security, which is the bottom line of the UDM.”

He was, however, careful in pointing that his party is “not imposing any position, we want to make sure that in line with the spirit of negotiating a solution for South Africa, we must listen to the other people. South Africa’s conflict, in it there were no winners, we all know that. But it was through negotiations. But right now I am saying we never finished that process, because we were pressed to find a political solution to address issues of violence and so on.”

Holomisa believes that “now is the time. It might have come late because the system, which we all agreed at the World Trade Center [referring to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa], unfortunately the government of South Africa, the ANC, failed to manage that. But at the end of the day, the majority citizens must find a solution, to make sure that the majority citizens of South Africa feel proud to own a piece of land, unlike currently. So you do not have to be white or black, all we want is in line with the desires of peace, let’s live in harmony in South Africa.”

Political Analysis South Africa asked Holomisa about whether expropriation of land without compensation or the party’s envisaged wholesale land reform was not renegotiating the peace that brought about the constitution, and if whether he thinks section 25 of the Constitution is currently adequate in addressing the land question.

He retorted, “I am not even interested to get involved in that argument, that argument has been overtaken by the motion which was tabled in Parliament, where it says, you are welcome to come and say constitutionally this is wrong. But at the end of the day we are going to manage to identify why this slow pace in transferring land to the rightful owners. That argument is outdated now, people must come forward with proposals. If you say it empowers us, but why are we not transferring this land? The time of theorising is over; we need to get to the bottom of the problem.”

Holomisa also took aim at communal land, saying, “Everything about land in the South Africa must be reviewed. You have for instance areas like Vhembe District, you go to Transkei, people in rural areas are building expensive houses, but those houses you can’t even insure them, you can’t even use them for collateral. On the other hand, we must also listen to those who say, well if you put collateral in those houses, the chances are that you will end up staying in a shack, if you can’t service your monies and so on. Those arguments must come forward.”

“There is a need to review the land tenure system in South Africa. You have for instance Ingonyama Trust, the King is threatening war, blah blah – let him come and explain himself, who owns this land and what powers one has, and what is the role of individual South Africans who fall under Ingonyama Trust. So it’s the best opportunity ever, I am happy because the UDM has been pushing to have a national convention to talk education, to talk economy, and land. I can’t wait for the process to start.”

In the end, says Holomisa, “I am a black person, I know why I supported the struggle, I don’t doubt it, and I don’t even need to be reminded about that. But one of the things that we wanted in the constitution talks about fairness; we must be fair. Why would you expect 52 million blacks, to continue to seek jobs from a three million population of white people, instead of investing in the black population?”