SACP and Contralesa Demand National Referendum
By Thabo Mosia
The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) have announced plans to mobilise for a national referendum to resolve South Africa’s longstanding land question. The decision follows extensive bilateral talks held in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Friday, marking a significant step towards addressing historical land dispossession and its ongoing impact on poverty and inequality in the country.
A United Call for Land Justice
The SACP and Contralesa, representing a coalition of progressive forces and traditional leadership, expressed frustration over delays in resolving the land issue, which they argue is central to South Africa’s socio-economic challenges. SACP General-Secretary Solly Mapaila, speaking at a press conference following the four-and-a-half-hour meeting, emphasised that the land question can no longer be ignored.
“Because Parliamentarians have been wasting a lot of time. The government has been wasting time on this important question that has been affecting our society,” Mapaila said. He highlighted the link between land dispossession and widespread poverty, stating, “The reason why we have poverty in our country is because the land has been dispossessed from its rightful owners, the people of this country and those who have played a custodian role on behalf of the people and the traditional leaders.”
The announcement comes amid growing public discontent over the slow pace of land reform, a process aimed at correcting the injustices of colonial and apartheid-era policies that stripped Black South Africans of their land. Historical laws, such as the Natives Land Act of 1913, restricted Black ownership, concentrating 87% of land in the hands of the white minority. Despite democratic reforms since 1994, progress has been limited, with white South Africans still owning approximately 70% of private farmland.
Reconnecting for a Common Cause
The bilateral meeting reaffirmed the SACP’s longstanding respect for traditional leaders, countering media narratives that suggested otherwise. Mapaila acknowledged the heroic role of traditional leaders in resisting colonialism and imperialism, noting that many fought and died defending their land. “Some died in battle defending our land which today remains in the hands of the minority although government claims that constitutional is in charge of the land but everyone can see it is not the case,” he said.
Contralesa, led by president Chief Mathupha Mokoena, echoed the SACP’s sentiments, stressing the need for traditional leaders to play a central role in national development. The organisations agreed that the current Government of National Unity (GNU) represents a “political capitulation to the interest of reactionary forces and imperialists and colonial forces in our country.” They rejected the GNU structure and called for leadership that prioritises the economic needs of South Africans.
The SACP and Contralesa have established a joint working group, led by their respective offices, to develop a programme for land restitution. This includes mobilising communities to support the call for a referendum, which they see as a democratic solution to bypass parliamentary delays. “We have said jointly that if there are problems we will have to mobilize for a national referendum to resolve the land question because parliamentarians have been wasting time,” Mapaila stated.
Addressing Poverty and Inequality
The organisations linked land dispossession to South Africa’s persistent poverty and inequality. According to recent data, approximately 63% of South Africans lived below the upper-middle-income country poverty line in 2024, with unemployment standing at 31.9% in the fourth quarter of the same year. Rural communities under traditional leadership are particularly affected, with limited access to resources and economic opportunities.
“The wealth of this land is been abstracted by corporates and the state is looking aside,” Mapaila said, criticising the siphoning of resources that enriches a minority while leaving the majority in poverty. He highlighted the plight of traditional communities, where leaders are “helpless to just oversee poverty of their people with their hands tied down by the so-called democratic government.”
The call for a referendum aligns with broader efforts to address economic disparities. The SACP and Contralesa plan to work together to advocate for policies that prioritise food security, job creation, and equitable resource distribution. They also rejected recent proposals to increase value-added tax (VAT), arguing that it disproportionately burdens the poor.
Rejecting VAT and Proposing Alternatives
The SACP and Contralesa condemned suggestions to raise VAT, particularly after a court ruling against such a move. Mapaila warned that VAT increases punish the poor and the rich equally, despite their differing capacities. “When you increase the VAT, you don’t change the fact that when you go to the shops a billionaire and a poor person who’s unemployed will have to buy the bread with the same price,” he said.
Instead, the organisations proposed alternative taxation methods, such as increasing company taxes and exploring unorthodox economic strategies to generate state revenue. They urged the government to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that fiscal policies do not exacerbate inequality. This stance reflects broader public sentiment, with many South Africans opposing tax hikes amid rising living costs.
A Crisis of Leadership and Crime
The bilateral talks also addressed the “crisis of leadership” in South Africa, with the SACP and Contralesa describing the country as being on “autopilot” and potentially “remote controlled by forces other than the forces located in this country.” They called for a refocused leadership agenda that responds to the needs of the people, starting with economic transformation.
A particularly alarming issue raised was the rising number of murders targeting traditional leaders. Mapaila revealed that nearly 60 traditional leaders have been killed over the past three years, with 52 of these cases occurring in KwaZulu-Natal. Shockingly, only one or two cases have reached the courts, highlighting a lack of government action. “It is quite clear that government is not paying special proper attention to the lives of traditional leaders,” he said.
The organisations expressed concern that these killings may represent a “calculated move to wipe out our history” and called for immediate government intervention. They proposed the establishment of a special task team under the Minister of Police to investigate these murders and ensure the protection of traditional leaders. Additionally, they advocated for equal treatment and support for all traditional houses, regardless of their seniority.
Fighting Crime in Communities
Beyond the targeted killings of traditional leaders, the SACP and Contralesa committed to addressing the broader crisis of crime in South African communities. The SACP announced plans to launch a programme on 18 May in Mahikeng, North West, aimed at combating crime. This initiative will involve collaboration with traditional leaders to eliminate criminal activities and create safer environments.
“We hope that kind of a posture will roll out to different communities as well so that we fight crime in general but especially this crime against traditional leaders,” Mapaila said. The programme is expected to mobilise communities and strengthen local structures to tackle issues such as gangsterism, drug trafficking, and violent crime, which disproportionately affect rural and township areas.
The Path to a Referendum
The decision to pursue a national referendum marks a bold move by the SACP and Contralesa to force action on the land question. They argue that parliamentary processes have been undermined by “reactionary forces” that exploit legal mechanisms to delay reform. The joint working group will outline the details of the referendum campaign, including timelines and community mobilisation strategies.
Public support for land reform remains strong, particularly among Black South Africans who view it as essential to addressing historical injustices. Recent debates over the Expropriation Act, signed into law in January 2025, have intensified discussions about land redistribution. While the Act allows for expropriation without compensation under specific circumstances, critics argue it does not go far enough, while others warn of potential economic repercussions.
The SACP and Contralesa’s referendum proposal seeks to bypass these debates by giving South Africans a direct say in the future of land ownership. The campaign is expected to gain traction in rural areas, where traditional leaders hold significant influence, and among urban communities frustrated by economic exclusion.
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