We can't dismiss Mbeki's views

Last month the ANC national executive committee discussed its proposals on the amendment to the constitution with regards to land expropriation without compensation.

On Friday, former president Thabo Mbeki sent a 15-page input to the party, questioning in particular its proposed amendments on three areas.

These dealt with whether land restitution should include those who were dispossessed before the 1913 land act; expropriating land without compensation where improvements had been made; and whether the ethos of the proposals was in line with the Freedom Charter. 

For example, he argued that opening restitution to communities who were dispossessed before 1913 may have the unintended consequence of fostering tribalism.

This is because communities at the time were defined along tribal lines. Therefore claims by historic communities would inevitably reinforce tribal holds, which are regressive in nature. 

Predictably, Mbeki has been lambasted – at least by those on social media – for what they say is his opposition to expropriation.

Let’s be clear – we are not suggesting that Mbeki’s inputs should be adopted as the gold standard of thought in this process.  However, we would be naive not to engage soberly with the potential pitfalls he raises on the proposals put on the table by the ANC. 

The land question is a hugely complex matter that has defined our communal settlement, economic landscape, access to opportunities and human dignity for decades.

Therefore, it is expected and even permissible that our debate on land will always be an emotive one.

Yet in our response we must take the time to interrogate Mbeki’s own legacy in land reform, what has failed with ANC policies and practices since democracy as well as the potential challenges with the proposals on the table. 

We must ask why it is that government has spent billions of rand to redistribute land, yet has nothing to show for it? 

This debate is about our economic order as much as it is about justice and dignity for victims of dispossession.

It is therefore too important to leave it to political populism to chart a way forward.