Dean Macpherson must eat his words
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said there will be no expropriation of private property without compensation on his watch. However, it has already happened.
In January 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill into law, repealing the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975.
The new Expropriation Bill outlines how organs of State may expropriate land in the public interest for various reasons.
Many experts have criticised the new Expropriation Bill, which gives the state and various state organs the power to expropriate property without compensation.
Law experts from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr said South Africa’s new Expropriation Act may conflict with the country’s Constitution.
This is because the constitution does not allow for the arbitrary deprivation of land and stipulates that the expropriated party must be compensated.
The DA filed papers in the High Court to challenge the Expropriation Act, arguing it is unconstitutional, both substantively and procedurally.
The DA said it would fight to ensure that every South African can have their property rights defended, protected and advanced.
The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) agreed with the DA, saying the Act is unconstitutional and threatens property rights, investor confidence, and economic stability.
Agri SA warned that expropriation without compensation could jeopardise food security and production.
It explained that many South African farmers use land as an investment and as a home, risking financial ruin.
The Expropriation Bill is so controversial that the United States listed it as one of the demands to mend relations with South Africa.
It said there should be no land expropriation without fair market compensation. Expropriation should only proceed after all legal processes have been fully exhausted.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson must eat his words
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson defended the new Expropriation Bill, stating that it is a common practice worldwide.
“People keep trying to pretend that the concept of expropriation exists only in South Africa. It is an internationally standard practice for governments to acquire land,” he said.
He added that, “As the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, there will be no expropriation of private property without compensation on my watch.”
“The guarantee of property rights under Section 25 of the Constitution is not up for debate and is non-negotiable,” he said.
“I want to be unequivocal: No one in SA is having their land confiscated. As the minister of public works and infrastructure, land grabs will never be allowed,” he said.
He added that this was his commitment to the people of South Africa and the country’s partners around the world.
However, there are many examples of South Africans having their land confiscated without compensation and land grabs.
In one of the recent cases, the City of Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng province has expropriated a 34-hectare property, known as portion 406 of the Farm Driefontein, without compensation.
At the time of expropriation, the owner was applying for development rights, and the property was valued at a minimum of R30 million.
Earlier this year, A large private property of about 120 hectares was partially invaded by land grabbers. The invaders are refusing to leave despite threats of eviction.
There are many other examples of land grabs and expropriation without compensation, which show that Macpherson’s claims are misguided.
BusinessTech contacted the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for comment, but there was no response.
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