A South African parliamentary panel will seek an extension to a 28 September deadline to present its findings on possible constitutional amendments to ease expropriation of land without compensation – boosting the odds that the legislature won\u2019t decide on the matter before next year\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n
The committee needs more time to consider public submissions on a possible policy shift and will discuss a new deadline for submitting its report to the National Assembly with Speaker Baleka Mbete, its co-chairman, Lewis Nzimande, said Thursday at a hearing in Cape Town.<\/p>\n
The ruling African National Congress decided in December that constitutional amendments are necessary to address racially skewed land-ownership patterns dating back to colonial and apartheid rule, and told the parliamentary committee to see how the law could be changed.<\/p>\n
The potential erosion of property rights and fears of a Zimbabwe-style land grab has added to negative sentiment toward emerging markets and compounded a sell-off in the rand.<\/p>\n
The committee received 449,522 valid written submissions and 65% of respondents favored leaving the constitution unchanged, while 34 percent wanted it amended, an analysis conducted by recruitment company Silumko Consulting shows.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers rejected the findings and questioned how parliament selected the company to collate the data and whether its staff is capable of doing a proper job. The panel has yet to decide how the submissions will now be evaluated.<\/p>\n