Public Works Minister Macpherson's strong opposition to the recently signed expropriation bill has ignited political tensions within the South African government. He vows to protect property rights and prevent the expropriation of private property without compensation, clashing with the ANC's long-standing stance on land reform.
Political tensions are escalating within the South Africa n government as Public Works Minister, Siviwe Macpherson, vehemently opposes the newly enacted expropriation bill . Macpherson, a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), declared his commitment to safeguarding property rights , stating that there would be no expropriation of private property under his watch. He emphasized the non-negotiability of property rights guaranteed under Section 25 of the Constitution.
This stance has ignited conflict with the African National Congress (ANC), the other major party in the governing National Unity Government (GNU), which has long advocated for land reform and equitable distribution of resources.The expropriation bill, signed into law despite reservations from the DA, aims to address historical land inequalities and provide a framework for land acquisition without compensation. This adds fuel to the existing tensions between the ANC and the DA, which have already flared over the implementation of other contentious bills like the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill, the National Health Insurance Act (NHI), and the contentious Protection of State Information Bill. These ongoing disagreements underscore the challenges of maintaining a unified government after the May 2024 elections, where no single party secured a majority, necessitating a coalition.Macpherson's public rebuke of the bill, delivered via X (formerly Twitter), appeared to be directed at Public Works deputy minister Sihle Zikalala, who had indicated that the minister would be responsible for defending the bill in court. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya defended the bill, asserting that it had undergone extensive public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, aligning legislation on expropriation with the Constitution. He clarified that Section 25 of the Constitution permits expropriation for public purposes, provided just and equitable compensation is paid. Magwenya pointed out that the Expropriation Act of 1975, which predates the Constitutional provision, governed land expropriation until now
South Africa Expropriation Bill GNU Democratic Alliance African National Congress Land Reform Property Rights Section 25
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