Madam Deputy Speaker, land was taken by force from the masses in this country. Three hundred and sixty two years after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck, our people are still battling to take back what was rightfully theirs. We need to make sure that we address the atrocities of the past.
The 1913, 1946 and 1950 Acts fundamentally robbed black, Indian and coloured people of their land. Now tell me, can you really fix 362 years of colonial oppression in just 20 years? For political parties like the DA, who look for every opportunity to criticise, land reform is not a priority. Why? Because they only care about protecting the interests of the elite.
They stand here in Parliament, debating against legislation which will actually benefit the suffering masses. Therefore, their slogan, "we serve all", is totally inaccurate and misleading. We must utilise this opportunity to safeguard the future of the poor and marginalised. We cannot maintain the status quo. If we do, it would mean that 80% of the land would remain in the hands of 10% of the population, and this is not on.
The fact that the DA opposes this legislation smacks of their unwilling commitment to transformation. Their agenda is very clear - to maintain the status quo so that the riches in this country stay in the hands of a selected few. Indeed, I believe that women are the personification of self-sacrifice. Many DA members, and I don't see the hon More here today, who was blowing hot air, would go back to the community to galvanise the coloured, Indian and black votes. Yet, when hon More comes to Parliament, she only fights in the interests of the white minority. [Interjections.] It seems as if she has forgotten the basic tenets of black consciousness. She must go and hang her head in shame.
If you have experienced forced removals, lived in a township, or suffered the indignity of providing a pass to walk on your own land, you will understand the necessity of this Bill. The introduction of the Valuer- General to the land redistribution process is necessary. Government can now take a more active role. We cannot simply leave it up to the market, with the willing-buyer, willing-seller notion. The market is controlled by those who benefitted from the apartheid regime.
Without the presence of the Valuer-General, we will see the escalation of prices, which will result in the suburban lifestyle being reflective of only one demographic element. This will further hamper the economic emancipation of our people. Indeed, the MF reiterates the call for a 2030 vision of each South African having security of tenure. Hence we need to move towards a property-owning democracy, and this Bill is indeed the step in the right direction.
Currently, we have only delivered a quarter of the 30% target. We need to hasten up the process. At the heart of the slow pace has been the willing- buyer, willing-seller method. It is very clear that the elite that the DA defends do not want to relinquish the land. Although the MF does not support a land grab, it is necessary to make sure that the market prices do not protect and only enrich the selected few, while the masses are sidelined and marginalised. The MF will support the Bill. [Time expired.] [Applause.]