# We will ‘strengthen BEE’ and move forward with expropriating land – Magashule

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/01/23/we-will-strengthen-bee-and-move-forward-with-expropriating-land-magashule/
- Published: 2020-01-23T08:23:14+02:00
- Author: dearSA

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The ANC wants to ‘de-racialise our towns and cities and transform apartheid-era 
spacial patterns’, its secretary-general said.
 At a press briefing on Wednesday
at Luthuli House, African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Ace Magashule
outlined what was agreed upon at a lekgotla held on 19 and 20 January, following
a meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) on 17 and 18 January.

Magashule listed a number of the resolutions taken, which included the “strengthening
of BEE and other policies to transform racial, patriarchal and monopoly ownership
patterns in our economy,” as well as the endorsement of moving ahead with amending
the constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation.

The ANC secretary-general also discussed the ANC’s standpoint on the nation’s struggling
state-owned enterprises, hinting that the party planned to fight privatisation of
these companies, including national carrier SAA, which is currently under business
rescue.

Other resolutions taken by the party include:

cracking down on tax avoidance: recent reports show that only 3 million people out
of SA’s 56 million paid 97% of personal income tax in 2019
 transforming the structure
of manufacturing with a renewed emphasis on localisation easing SA’s visa requirements
eradicating youth unemployment boosting consumer demand and lowering the costs of
doing business (including data costs) curbing climate change by promoting sustainable,
smart agriculture and alternative technologies ensuring greater coordination between
our various justice and law enforcement bodies, as well as modernising systems in
these bodies increasing social cohesion He said it was conceded at the lekgotla 
that some communities under the party’s control have experienced basic infrastructure
failures.

Regarding land expropriation, Magashule said the lekgotla endorsed the amendment
of section 25 of the constitution, and committed to an “intensive program to popularise
and explain its position on the amendment of section 25 of the constitution”.

He added that among the key issues surrounding this would be the development of 
black farmers, as well as the question of urban land.

READ MORE: SAA should be retained as a national airline – Magashule

Magashule said the ANC wanted to “de-racialise our towns and cities and transform
apartheid-era spacial patterns”, which would include the “expropriation of well 
located urban land and targeting of derelict buildings”.

“We won’t allow hijacking of buildings in our cities and towns,” he said.

Magashule also noted that SA would function as AU chair this year.

“SA will once again assume the important role as the AU chair under the theme of
silencing the guns to create conducive environment for development. SA must also
use its non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council to transform the international
body,” he said.

Magashule said the lekgotla came at a “pivotal moment for our country due to the
economic difficulties we are faced with, as many people continue to endure great
hardship”.

He said the ANC had agreed that the most important issues of concern to the nation
include the economy, jobs, SOEs and building a “capable state”.

He said that his party was attempting to fight the triple challenge of unemployment,
inequality and poverty.

(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)

#### Have you had your say on the CONSTITUTION EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT BILL (land Expropriation without compensation)

[click to have your say ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/constitution-eighteenth-amendment-bill/)

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