Parties threaten to challenge Expropriation Bill signed into law
The DA, which is part of the GNU along with the ANC, has raised concerns about the Land Expropriation Bill signed into law on Thursday.
Political parties, including those part of the government of national Unity (GNU), are considering legal action to challenge the Land Expropriation Bill that President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Thursday.
In September 2022, the National Assembly approved the Expropriation Bill despite opposition from the Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
According to Parliament, the purpose of the Land Expropriation Bill was to repeal the existing apartheid-era Expropriation Act of 1975, which was not in line with the Constitution. The Bill further seeks to provide for certain instances where expropriation with nil compensation may be appropriate in the public interest.
POLITICAL PARTIES TO CHALLENGE EXPROPRIATION BILL
Reacting to the news, the DA said it strongly reiterates its opposition to the Expropriation Bill.
The party said that while it recognises that the Constitution allows for acts of redress and restitution, including land reform, it has serious reservations about the procedure and critical substantive aspects of the Bill.
“We are in discussion with our legal team to formulate our case,” the party said.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said they are not happy with the procedure for passing the Expropriation Bill.
Khakhau said they are of a firm belief that if South Africans are expected to recognise, abide by, and respect the law, the bare minimum they can do as Parliamentarians is to ensure that they respect South Africans procedurally enough to give them legislation that is sober, makes sense, and passes procedural mastery.
‘THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WON’T HELP ADDRESS THE LAND QUESTION’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said the Expropriation Act is a cop-out by the ANC and only used to fool people into believing that the party to address the almost tyrannical neglect of the land question in the country.
“It will not assist in resolving the tragedy of land restitution in this country, which has hollowed out state coffers for compensation to white settlers who illegitimately own our land,” EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said.
Likewise, ActionSA said it believes this is yet another example of the ANC’s relentless push for destructive policies, enabled by the “ongoing capitulation of its GNU partners on critical matters that threaten the future of South Africa”.
ActionSA chief whip Lerato Ngobeni said from the dangerously flawed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme to the implementation of the controversial BELA [Basic Education Laws Amendment] Act, the continued entrenchment of failed B-BBEE [Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment] policies, and the expansion of an already bloated Cabinet, government has come to represent the continuation of the very misgovernance that has brought South Africa to its knees.
“Effective land reform is achievable within existing legislative and regulatory frameworks but necessitates dedicated political leadership committed to equitable ownership distribution. Properly managed, land reform is crucial to empower emerging black farmers and landowners, generate employment in the agricultural sector, and enhance food security. Regrettably, such political leadership does not exist in the current governing coalition,” Ngobeni said.
UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said the Land Expropriation Bill disguised as a solution to South Africa’s land question is nothing but a continuation of injustice and betrayal of people’s struggles for true land restitution.
“The MK Party categorically rejects this law and its attempts to sanitise the theft of our land. Our ancestors’ cries for justice cannot be silenced by legislative tricks designed to preserve the status quo,” MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT RAMAPHOSA’S DECISION TO SIGN THE LAND EXPROPRIATION BILL INTO LAW?
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