Legislation: Revised Expropriation Bill to be released for comment

The revised Expropriation Bill will be released for public comment before being tabled in Parliament but ‘is unlikely to be adopted before next year’s elections’, according to Public Works Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin (City Press). Noting the importance of reassuring South Africans and investors that government is ‘not trying to rip the Constitution apart’, the Deputy Minister alluded to provisions in the Bill ‘making explicit what is implicit’ in the version withdrawn from Parliament last month. As Legalbrief Today has already reported, the revised Bill will also reflect the outcome of a constitutional review process still under way – whatever that may be, notes Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. 

When members of the National Assembly’s Public Works Committee were briefed on government’s intentions before the 2015 Bill was withdrawn, Cronin spoke of the need for a clear ‘signal’ that ‘Zimbabwe-style’ land grabs are not part of SA’s land reform agenda. The expropriation of land without compensation will only occur under ‘specific conditions’ rendering the use of such a measure ‘just and equitable’ – in keeping with section 36(1) of the Constitution (limitation of rights). A report on the review of section 25 of the Constitution is expected to be tabled in the House for ‘adoption … at the end of next month’, according to Parliament’s programming committee (Cape Argus).

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