Expropriation Bill under fire

2008-07-23 20:13

Johannesburg - A group of organisations and political parties are distributing a petition against the Expropriation Bill, describing it as "the greatest single threat" to South Africa's democracy.

"The Expropriation Bill will have disastrous consequences: it is unconstitutional; it will seriously damage the economy; it will threaten South Africa's food security; it will damage race relations - and it is unnecessary," said Afrikanerbond managing director Jan Bosman on Wednesday.

He said the Ad Hoc Committee for the Defence of Property Rights had started a petition to mobilise support against "this draconic legislation" which would give powers to the government to expropriate land from farmers.

The committee was a group of organisations and political parties opposed to the bill and included the Afrikanerbond, the FW de Klerk Foundation, the African Christian Democratic Party, Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus.

- SAPA