Land expropriation Bill fizzles out
The ANC’s attempts to push through a Bill to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation yesterday failed after it could not get the backing of other parties.
It is noted that the collapse in negotiations between the EFF and ANC on the custodianship of land led to the ruling party not getting the required 267 MPs or 67% (two-thirds) majority to push it through.
The ANC decided four years ago that the amendments were needed to tackle racially skewed land-ownership patterns stemming from apartheid and colonial rule.
Moneyweb reports that while the rejection of the Bill is good news for investors and banks, it will provide ammunition for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s detractors in the ANC, who accuse him of failing to abide by its resolutions.
Party directives to nationalise the central bank and establish a state lender that were taken in 2017 have also not been implemented.
Business Day reports that the ANC has 230 seats in Parliament, and required at least 267 votes to pass the Bill.
Of the MPs present in the house and on the virtual platform, 145 members voted against the Bill and 204 were in support.
As a result, the debate on section 25 is over unless the ANC secures the support of the EFF or if it gains a two thirds-majority in the House of Assembly in the 2024 general elections.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
