The subsequent laws which were created through the Constitution to provide these rights, stipulate that the land that was taken through the barrel of a gun can only be returned to the former owners in the form of cash. However, the same law does not require that those people who own the land should make some concession to these poor victims, neither does it provide for some form of reparation to the people who were deprived of their dignity, wellbeing, and means of livelihood. The ANC government, and surely the ANC itself, must change direction on the land question if redistribution of the land is to be accelerated.
I know many people think that this is empty talk because we have freedom in Parliament. However, let me tell you that the SA judiciary, the custodians of our Constitution, can certainly not be slaves to the market on this question. They are obsessed with preservation. This morning the Minister was talking about Western civilisation, the civilised form of dispossession and the uncivilised form through the barrel of the gun. Many people think that the judges epitomise the moral fibre of our country. Let me tell you why that is not true. This is sacred ground upon which you should never trample, but what about the poor people whose rights have been taken away through the courts?
Hon Minister, let me tell you something. In a small town called Piketberg, there is an 85-year-old woman who is critically ill. Her grandson submitted a form in 1998 to claim the entire 19,9 ha that belong to the family. However, there were many other family members who were living on that piece of land. When research was eventually done with regard to this claim after the form was found three years ago - remember that it was submitted in 1998 - it was discovered that the rest of the family had been disowned by the grandson, who had claimed the land.