Don’t sign ‘unconstitutional’ Expropriation Bill into law, IRR to urge Ramaphosa

[Nat Quinn]

Don’t sign ‘unconstitutional’ Expropriation Bill into law, IRR to urge Ramaphosa

 

Weakening property rights will end any chance of South Africa becoming a prosperous society, warns the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The warning comes as the IRR prepares a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa to alert him to the the unconstitutionality of the Expropriation Bill and urge him not to sign it into law.

The IRR points out in a statement that the Bill recently passed through Parliament and is now awaiting the President’s signature, after which it will become law.

‘The Bill remains unconstitutional in many ways – and the IRR will be consulting its legal advisors in preparation for a possible legal challenge against it, should the President nevertheless give his assent to it,’ the statement said.

IRR analyst Marius Roodt said: ‘The Bill, as it stands, still has serious problems. If the May election brings to power a governing coalition of parties with little concern for the property rights of all South Africans, the Bill will provide those parties with extensive powers to expropriate both land and other property for nil or inadequate compensation.

‘The Bill provides a list of instances in which land – and perhaps also the improvements on it – may be expropriated for nil compensation. However, this list remains open-ended, which means that nil compensation could also apply in instances not specified in the Bill.’

Added Roodt: ‘This Bill, if passed, will weaken property rights significantly. Property rights are a key cornerstone of democracy and prosperity and any weakening of them will erode any chance South Africa has of becoming a free and prosperous society.’

He said a major attack on property rights could also ‘condemn South Africans to penury and destitution’.

‘In countries where property rights have been weakened significantly, such as Venezuela and Zimbabwe, the biggest victims in those places have been ordinary people, who have become very much poorer. There is no reason to think South Africa will be any different if property rights are attacked in a similar way. This Expropriation Bill should be renamed the Pro-Poverty Bill,’ said Roodt.

The IRR said it would also be writing to other organisations which had an interest in protecting property rights ‘and will ask them where they stand on the Expropriation Bill’. This forms part of the IRR’s campaign to build a pro-growth coalition in support of the pro-investment policies needed for rapid economic growth.

‘This Bill poses a grave threat to this country. Instead of promoting investment, it will drive investors away. Everyone with an interest in a prosperous and free South Africa should oppose it,’ Roodt concluded.

 

source:Don’t sign ‘unconstitutional’ Expropriation Bill into law, IRR to urge Ramaphosa – Daily Friend

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