Parties give Expropriation Bill a thumbs down!

THE newly signed Expropriation Bill is getting more rejection from political parties for various reasons.

President Cyril Ramaphosa finally signed the controversial bill on Thursday, 23 January, after five years of debates and disagreements from parties and civil rights lobby groups.

Some parties called for the bill to be firm on expropriation of land without compensation, while others disagreed with expropriation of any land.

When Ramaphosa signed the bill and explained what it entails, it was met with rejections and threats of lawsuits.

The EFF said the signed bill is used by the ANC to fool the people into believing that the party is doing something to address the almost-tyrannical neglect of the land question in this country.

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The party stated that it won't assist in resolving the tragedy of land restitution in this country, which has hollowed out state coffers for compensation to white settlers who illegitimately own land.

African Transformation Movement (ATM) spokesman Zama Ntshona expressed disappointment in the president for signing the bill in its current form.

"This bill, which provides for expropriation with nil-compensation in certain instances, is a betrayal of the aspirations of the people of South Africa who have long called for genuine land reform through expropriation without compensation," Ntshona said.

"When public hearings on this issue were held across the country, South Africans spoke in one voice. The overwhelming demand was clear: expropriation without compensation. Not a single South African advocated for "nil-compensation."

Ntshona stated that this concept was manufactured as a compromise to serve the interests of landowners and those who continue to benefit from land theft.

uMkhonto Wesizwe spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the land was stolen and must be returned without conditions of compensation.

Meanwhile, FreedomFront Plus leader Dr Pieter Groenewald said they don't accept this and have continuously spoken out against harmful consequences of the law.

"The party will follow a dual approach to protecting property rights in South Africa. We'll challenge the constitutionality of the law in the Constitutional Court," said Groenewald.

"Should it be found unconstitutional, the FF Plus will do everything in its power, as member of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and cabinet, to have an amendment bill issued to address the law's unconstitutionality."