Jump to navigation

South Africa

Land law poses first major test to coalition

The ANC faces a careful balancing act as Ramaphosa signs the controversial ‘expropriation without compensation’ bill 

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to sign a controversial Expropriation Bill into law is likely to be the first major test to his governing coalition. Signed on 23 January, the new law, which has been in the pipeline for five years, replaces the apartheid era Expropriation Act of 1975 and sets out how the government can expropriate land in the public interest.

The centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), on which Ramaphosa’s majority relies, has instructed its lawyers to build a case against the bill, stating that the party has ‘serious reservations about the procedure as well as important substantive aspects of the Bill’.

Signing the bill will appeal to the African National Congress’s left and is a clear attempt to win back voters who previously shifted their support to Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. This shift contributed to the ANC’s worst performance since the end of apartheid in last May’s general election (AC Vol 65 No 19, MK pins its hopes on Shivambu).

The new law allows for expropriation without compensation only where it is ‘just and equitable and in the public interest’, such as in cases where land is not being used or developed, and the ANC faces a careful balancing act in selling the bill without alienating the DA, particularly party leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen (AC Vol 65 No 15, The markets bet on Ramaphosa's grand coalition).

Deputy Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has been quick to frame the law as part of the liberation struggle for the black majority in South Africa.

The EFF, however, insists that the bill is a ‘legislative cop-out’ and will not deal with the issue of restitution.



Related Articles

MK pins its hopes on Shivambu

The new national organiser, who defected from the EFF, is expected to develop clearer policies for the struggling party

Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has wasted no time in getting its policy tsar to work, laying on motorcades around the provinces with local MK leaders, political...


The markets bet on Ramaphosa's grand coalition

The key test for the Government of National Unity is whether it can mobilise the billions needed to revive growth and cut unemployment

The excitement in the markets over the launch of the Government of National Unity (GNU) has to be balanced against the enormity of the challenges confronting the leaders...


Writing the next act

A new player steps on to the stage vowing to disrupt the status quo ahead of elections next year

Rise Mzansi, the brainchild of Songezo Zibi and allies, was launched with some grandeur on Johannesburg's Constitution Hill – home to the Constitutional Court and a symbol of...


Walking right, talking left

The African National Congress’s loud debate over economic policy will continue in 2010. The Left demands a more interventionist stance than that of the then Finance Minister, Trevor...


Military manoeuvres

Pretoria's once powerful armed forces need fast reform and a new strategy if they are to help regional security

One of the country's sharpest and most popular politicians Defence Minister Mosiuoa (Patrick) Lekota has a daunting task ahead of him if he is to reform the military...