Mogoeng tackles land issue, racism in UKZN address
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng says he believes South Africa can find a way to navigate the current land issues, but that we need to confront the reality of the situation.
Mogoeng delivered this year's Chief Albert Luthuli Annual Memorial Lecture, at UKZN.
The chief justice discussed possible solutions to the some of the challenges the country's facing at the moment - touching on the contentious issue of land and expropriation without compensation.
"Let's connect with reality - and the reality is land was taken from African people just as we were able to solve apartheid governance out of existence through an negotiated process. I'm confident considering the hurdles we have had to pass through as a nation that if we really commit ourselves to addressing this issue - we will," Mogoeng said.
Meanwhile Chief Justice Mogoeng says we need to confront racism, to move forward as a country.
He pointed to the fact that 24 years into South Africa's democracy, the divide persists.
"Why is it that young white compatriots - who are the dawn of democracy were not big players of the economy? Now they are big players. While seasoned economists and entrepreneurs who were previously excluded are still out there in the cold," Mogoeng said.
Mogoeng adds that the issue should be addressed without being hostile to one another.
"There is subconscious racism - that gives them out and we have to confront that. We need intellectuals to pour out their intellectual gifts with the view of finding a solution to this challenge," Mogoeng said.