A North West DA member of the provincial legislature who joined the ANC and EFF caucuses singing a struggle song about equal ownership of land and property in South Africa has been hauled to the highest echelons of his party to account.
Former MP Chris Steyl, who was sworn in as a member of the provincial legislature in June 2024, was seen during last week’s State of the Province Address in solidarity with the two political parties chanting the pro-socialism slogan.
Within his party, Steyl, fluent in Setswana, serves as the DA spokesperson on education, arts, culture and recreation, as well as cooperative governance, human settlements, and traditional affairs.
The song carrying the Zulu lyrics begins thus, “Yini iSocia-lism? Umhlaba wonke ezandleni zabantu. Akunamuntu ongaphatha umhlaba yedwa. Bayayesaba amabhujwa, Kuba efuna ukusetyenzelwa ngabantu.” (What is socialism? The whole land must be in the hands of the people. No one can own the land alone. The property owners are afraid because they want to be served by the people).
The incident happened as other DA party members sat down and did not participate.
DA chief whip, Jóhni Steenkamp, said the party treated Steyl’s behaviour as a caucus matter.
“I have initiated an investigation into the incident in accordance with our caucus rules and have today referred it to our federal structures,” she said.
According to a party insider, talks were that Steyl might consider admitting that the chanting expressed what other political parties want, but that it does not mean he is in support.
“The chant was not to score a goal, but a decision to say once you chant a particular song, then this policy would gain traction and cost you.
“The DA has a tough political attitude that is causing political anxiety, to the point that a member cannot even dance to a song; Steyl has never contradicted the party, and dancing and chanting is an art.
“The land expropriation act is a topical issue in the country about the policy review on land; certainly what Steyl did aroused political emotions,” he said.
The incident came as party leader John Steenhuisen has been vocal, saying he rejects that the DA supports the Expropriation Act.
In a statement this week, the DA said it had concluded a week-long work visit to Washington DC, aimed at stabilising diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US during this period of heightened tensions.
However, according to the DA’s land reform policy, the party says it will tackle challenges and economic exclusions suffered by millions of South Africans who were victims of discriminatory laws denying the majority access to land and its many economic, social, cultural and other benefits. “Post-settlement support also remains minimal, with many beneficiaries lacking the resources and expertise to utilise their land effectively.
“Low economic growth and high unemployment are also major barriers to land access.
“Compounding these issues are inadequate legislation and recent reform efforts, such as the Expropriation Bill, which, despite its aim to enhance access to land, do not address matters of corruption and institutional inefficiency,” the statement reads.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Expropriation Bill, which sets out how organs of state may expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons.
The bill, which has undergone a five-year process of public consultation and parliamentary deliberation, is said to align legislation on expropriation with the Constitution.
The bill assented to by Ramaphosa outlines how expropriation can be carried out and on what basis.
According to the Presidency, the new law will assist all organs of the state – local, provincial and national – to expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons.
