Legislation: New committee to deal with constitutional change

The National Assembly has, in principle, established a new ad hoc committee to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25 of the Constitution ‘to make explicit that which is implicit’ regarding land expropriation without compensation, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. It is expected to complete this task by 31 March 2020 – informed by work conducted and recommendations made in reports compiled under SA’s fifth democratic Parliament by the first ad hoc committee (which could not complete its task by the time Parliament rose for May’s general elections) and the previous Joint Constitutional Review Committee. This is according to parliamentary papers circulated yesterday.

A media statement issued in March by the previous ad hoc committee noted, among other things, that – in the short time available to them – members had opted to focus on identifying key elements of a policy framework to underpin the amendment Bill required. Discussions in this regard were informed by preparatory work undertaken last year by the Joint Constitutional Review Committee, as well as ‘extensive engagements’ held with experts in land reform and the Constitution. An earlier statement drew attention to the need for a ‘meticulous’ process that should ‘not come across as being rushed’ and should contribute to ‘nation building’.

Follow Pam Saxby on Twitter (@SaxbyPam)