Disclosed expropriation list: AfriForum, TAU SA and Sakeliga to develop joint litigation strategy to protect property rights
14 August 2018
AfriForum, the agricultural union TAU SA and the business organisation Sakeliga decided to combine their efforts and develop a joint litigation strategy to oppose government’s intended plans to expropriate property without compensation.
The decision follows an internal discussion document of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) that was provided to AfriForum by a reputable source. The document contains a list of properties which are earmarked for expropriation. The document’s disclosure was preceded by confirmation from Zizi Kodwa, Head of the Presidency, as well as other members of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) that the DRDLR had an expropriation list of 139 properties.
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, also indicated that her department had already identified land for expropriation, but that she would not make the list public, as it would then serve as a warning to affected owners and provide them with the opportunity to prepare for legal action. The disclosure of the list also follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that he and the ANC wanted to change the Constitution to make expropriation without compensation possible.
As a result of confirmations by ANC NEC members as well as the Minister, all three organisations agree that an expropriation list indeed exists. The Institute of Race Relations’ finding that the list was credible, as well as the fact that most of the properties on the list adhere to the Department’s description of which categories of property would be targeted, are reason enough to view the expropriation list with gravity and not to dismiss it.