"[Land reform is] a very basic demand based on historical facts. Our land was taken from us; what must happen is the land must be returned to its rightful owners." Those were the words of Andile Mngxitama in response to the land question in an exclusive interview on The Special Focus with Zahid Jadwat.
The leader of the Black First Land First movement was speaking in an exclusive interview on Thursday wherein he weighed in on various issues facing South Africa, including the land debate, the party's support for the corruption-tainted Gupta family and former-President Jacob Zuma. Speaking about farmworkers, himself being the son of a farmworker, Mngxitama said that he believes farmworkers are treated like slaves. "Our government, post-1994, has institutionalised what I call slavery on farms. What you need to do in South Africa today if you're really serious, is to give farmworkers liberation and that means giving them land. When asked if taking the land back at all costs, as the BLF has previously called for, is justifiable, Mngxitama described it as a scenario of being displaced on the streets after being kicked out of one's own house and then returning to reclaim the house. "Wouldn't you take all measures possible to reclaim the house that belongs to you? Isn't that the most ethical thing to do?" asked Mngxitama. Listen to the full interview below:
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AuthorZahid Jadwat is a South African writer, columnist, podcaster and radio show host. Archives
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