South African Expropriation Act faces legal challenges from DA, AfriForum, and IRR
The Expropriation Act, which permits the South African government to expropriate land without compensation under certain conditions, is currently being challenged in the high court in Cape Town. The Democratic Alliance DA, a member of the Government of National Unity, along with AfriForum and the Institute of Race Relations IRR Legal, are among the organizations contesting various aspects of the Act. The DA's challenge focuses on the rationality of the law, particularly section 19, which outlines the dispute resolution process for expropriation offers. The party argues that the wording of this section creates an irrational timeline, making the entire Act unconstitutional and violating section 251 of the Constitution. The DA also questions the voting process in the National Council of Provinces during the Bill's ratification, alleging that provincial delegates were not lawfully authorized to vote. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who signed the law in December 2024 and announced it in January 2025, acknowledges issues with Section 19 but proposes a "reading-in" remedy rather than scrapping the legislation. AfriForum and IRR Legal specifically challenge sections 122e, 123, and 124, which deal with "nil compensation," arguing they are incompatible with Section 25 of the Constitution and that international law generally requires compensation for expropriation. Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza and President Ramaphosa defend the legislation, with Didiza stating that the Act
