The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced strong opposition to the Expropriation Bill, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa this week, claiming the Act is unconstitutional.
DA leader John Steenhuisen stated during a media briefing in Cape Town that the African National Congress (ANC) has deviated from agreements made during the Government of National Unity (GNU), emphasising that the DA joined the GNU to share power, not to be overruled.
“The Government of National Unity is not a project of politicians. It gives expression to the will of the people, who clearly said they want parties to genuinely work together, in a spirit of mutual respect, to build South Africa. The DA continues to uphold our end of the bargain.”
Steenhuisen in his letter to Ramaphosa yesterday stated that he noted a few objections.
“To do so, I yesterday wrote to President Ramaphosa to Object in the strongest terms to the fact that he signed the Expropriation Act this week in contravention of a clear legal opinion, submitted by Minister Macpherson, that the Act is unconstitutional;
Note the DA’s implacable opposition to the inclusion of the NHI in the Medium-Term Development Plan, with the accompanying budgetary implications; and Record the failure to set up effective dispute resolution mechanisms, and the abuse of the Clearing House Mechanism. Most importantly, I notified the President that I was formally invoking Section 19 of the Statement of Intent.”
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula dismissed the DA’s objections, asserting that due process was followed before the Bill became law. Speaking at the ANC’s lekgotla in Kempton Park, Mbalula accused the DA of feigned surprise and warned that opponents of the Act would be held accountable.
The Expropriation Act, which addresses property expropriation and related remuneration, has sparked controversy, with the DA vowing to challenge its constitutionality.
