National Assembly approves process to amend Section 25 of Constitution
4 December 2018
The National Assembly has agreed that section 25 of the Constitution be amended to make expropriation of land without compensation more explicit.
In February, the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces instructed the joint Constitutional Review Committee to review section 25 of the Constitution and other clauses, where necessary, to make it possible for the state to expropriate land in the public interest without compensation.
The committee engaged in extensive public consultation, including public hearings in all provinces and at Parliament. On 15 November, it adopted the report and recommendations, which the National Assembly approved today.
If the National Council of Provinces does the same at its scheduled sitting tomorrow, a Bill may be introduced. Introduction of such a Bill would follow procedures in Section 74 of the Constitution and the Rules of Parliament.