#EWC: Comments On The Presidential Advisory Committee's

The first ructions relating to the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform started in May this year, when it came to light that two reports were presented by the ten-member panel appointed by president Cyril Ramaphosa to report on the way forward for land reform in the country.

- Frikkie Mare

South Africans received the panel’s appointment well, as it comprised a mix of academics, industry professionals and farmers. However, when it was time to deliver the final report to the president, two members of the panel refused to sign off the majority report and decided to produce a report of their own, known as the minority report.

Two reports

In a conversation with one of the members of the majority report, it was brought to my attention that none of the majority members were comfortable with the minority report’s suggestions.

The fact that the president accepted two reports is concerning. Part of the terms of reference of the panel was that different members might (or in my opinion should) differ from one another. Panel members’ different views should, therefore, have been incorporated into one report, even if it meant that some parts were accompanied by footnotes stating which members of the committee did not agree with the particulars.

Nevertheless, we now have two reports. Although the president reportedly stated that he would consider the minority report’s recommendations, only the majority report was published at the end of July. Therefore, I will only comment on the majority report.

Good recommendations

Since the announcement that government would investigate the expropriation of land without compensation (EWC), there has been much uncertainty regarding the security of property rights in South Africa. This report is the second step, after the Expropriation Bill of 2019, in the process of shedding some light on the issue.