by DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – SOUTH African government of national unity (GNU) partners, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has vehemently rejected the ‘nil’ Expropriation of Property Without Compensation.
The latest development is likely to further divide the GNU partners that includes the African National Congress (ANC), whose majority members of parliament (MPs) supported the new Act compelling the Expropriation of Property Without Compensation.
Confirming the rejection of the Expropriation of Property Without Compensation on Monday, DA Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, said her party would never accept such proposals.
“The Democratic Alliance Federal Council, the highest policy and decision-making body in the DA between Federal Congresses, passed a motion to affirm the Party’s longstanding position against Expropriation of Property Without Compensation,” Zille said.
She added: “The Federal Council unanimously approved the motion which confirms our support for Section 25 of the Constitution, and the well-established DA position that just and equitable compensation adjudicated by a court of law must be paid for any expropriation.”
Zille stated the motion which the DA Federal Council passed acknowledges secure private property rights under the rule of law arguing that they are essential to fix investment, economic growth, job creation, and better living standards for the people of South Africa.
Among other issues the DA adopted includes the party’s support of section 25 of The Constitution of South Africa, the support of compensation that must be ‘just’ and ‘equitable’, as adjudicated by a court of law, in cases of expropriation in terms of the Constitution;
“(The DA) rejects the notion of ‘nil compensation’ as established by the Expropriation Act, 2024 as well as the limitations placed by the Act on rights of private property owners in contesting the terms of expropriation in court; and supports the existing efforts of the DA to take the Expropriation Act, 2024 on judicial review and explore every other opportunity to render the Act less of a risk to private property rights.”
“The DA continues in our court case challenging the constitutionality of the Expropriation Act in the High Court. The DA will continue to fight against expropriation without compensation, in every way that we can,” Zille said.
– CAJ News