Although the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defence of Property Rights has noted the withdrawal of the Expropriation Bill, it regards it as insufficient. At a recent meeting the committee, composed of several political parties and civil organisations, decided to continue applying pressure to ensure the draft Bill is never implemented in its current form.
In a media statement on the outcome of the last meeting, the committee said it recognises the necessity of expropriation for any state and government, but this should not take place in contravention of the constitution and other international norms and standards, as the proposed Expropriation Bill threatened to do. By means of correspondence with the public works minister, the committee will endeavour to establish what this department will be doing in future regarding the legislation.
It said that it will also try to get some assurances regarding property rights sureties. The committee felt it seemed certain that the legislation would be submitted to parliament again and in an amended format. It added that it was clear that the legislation formed part of the National Democratic Revolution and that international principles and standards were not a part of this revolution and its underlying principles. “For this reason alone, the Ad Hoc Committee can’t regard its actions as being concluded,” said TAU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl who also sits on the committee.
“On the contrary, the Expropriation Bill is an underlying symptom of the broader trend in government policy. The Ad Hoc Committee will therefore have to work unremittingly in order to oppose this Bill, as well as other similar legislation, with all its might,” he said. – Staff reporter
