Land expropriation the answer to unemployment, illegal mining – Nciza

Nciza said policy makers, including the governing ANC, should move with speed to address unemployment and illegal mining in the country.

He was speaking at the party’s anti-crime march meant to highlight the increasing crime rate, including gender-based violence, substance abuse, mass killings and illegal mining in Hammanskraal on Thursday.

He believes land expropriation is the answer.

“We are saying expropriate the land. The land that is not used that can be beneficial to our people must be expropriated, and give that particular mine to the people that are living there so that we can at least try and kill this unemployment and hunger.”

At the same time ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said government needs to rid the country of illegal immigrants in order to adequately serve its citizens.

He denied his call to oust illegal immigrants, which he linked to illegal mining and crime, constituted incitement of Afrophobia.

“We have always submitted ourselves to the African Union, overall we subscribe to the notion of Pan-Africanism. We understand the role played by many other African states in assisting to cater for our comrades when we were fighting for national liberation. Having formed a pact with Africa to build a better Africa - we subscribe to Agenda 2063 of silencing the guns - but even with that, we still say when you’re in South Africa be here legally.”

In the wake of anti-migrant groups such as Operation Dudula, Mabe said South Africans were becoming impatient with undocumented people living in the country illegally.

“There are instances where crime is perpetrated by them, especially when you talk zama zamas, but there are many other crimes that are being perpetrated by them…so to avoid citizen arrest and vigilantism we are urging them to hand themselves over to the police,” Mabe added.

He said communities must work together with law enforcement agencies and stop harbouring undocumented foreign nationals.

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