The Land Affairs Department is conducting research 'into the matter of foreign ownership of land' in South Africa but government had no plans to limit it, says Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
In reply to a question from Nick Clelland-Stokes, Democratic Alliance, Zuma said the department would address 'the numbers and types of cases involved'.
He said it would also entail 'a comparative study of countries facing similar challenges'.
The government had no plans 'at present' to limit foreign ownership of land.
'However, government acknowledged that there were concerns that need to be addressed.'
However, options could not be considered until the research was completed.
'If government were to consider restrictions on land ownership, such an issue would have to be thoroughly discussed between various government departments and other stakeholders', said the Deputy President.
While ANC Chief Whip Nathi Nhleko noted recently that private property ownership was protected by the constitution and the ANC had no intention of banning foreign ownership of land, an ANC resolution to the December national conference calls for careful examination of land ownership and usage patterns in the country.
The resolution noted that the sale of land to foreigners led to pricing beyond the reach of South Africans. The resolution will be debated at the congress.
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge