WATCH Govt Wants South Africans’ Homes for Nothing, Warns Mark Oppenheimer

Mark Oppenheimer – an advocate at the Johannesburg Bar – has urged South Africans to make their voices heard regarding the SA government’s proposed amendment to the Bill of Rights. In a video which is going viral, Oppenheimer says “I’m talking to you today, not as a lawyer but as a concerned citizen…” (Watch the video at bottom of page.)

He says “South Africa finds itself on the precipice of catastrophe – the economy is flatlining, Eskom can’t keep the lights on and in the middle of this Government wants to change the Bills of Rights for the first time in our history, to allow it to take your home and pay you nothing.”

Oppenheimer says he made the public service announcement “to warn all South Africans about the Government’s plan to take our homes without compensation.”

According to Oppenheimer, the Amendment Bill gives the Government “enormous power” to confiscate land, including homes, and offer nil in exchange. He said it’s not restricted to farm land, but includes urban homes too, and affects all South Africans  – young and old, black and white.

Is expropriation of land really the answer?

Oppenheimer argues that the premise for the amendment is to right the wrongs of the past, but that this won’t be accomplished with land expropriation. Oppenheimer says it’s employment that’s needed not land, and that in most land claims 90% of people chose money over land.

“Is expropriation of land really the answer when previously, in South Africa, people chose the money over the land? #makesyouthink,” he says.

Case histories

He also points to countries where land expropriation hasn’t worked. In Zimbabwe, farm workers also lost out when land was taken from farmers, and now the country has 90% unemployment. In Venezuela, he says, the economy is in ruins and two and a half million people have fled the country.

Oppenheimer says: “Government’s proposed amendment to the Bill of Rights will empower it to take your house and pay you nothing for it. Both rural and urban areas will be affected unless the amendment is defeated.”

It’s not too late to take action – Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer says there’s still time to oppose the bill by writing to section25@parliament.gov.za before the end of January 2020.

WATCH Mark Oppenheimer on why South Africans should oppose the amendment

https://www.facebook.com/mannmadepage/videos/2517626821829851/