Expropriation 'constitutional'

2008-06-04 20:27

Johannesburg - The Portfolio Committee on Public Works has disputed claims by the Democratic Alliance that the Expropriation Bill is unconstitutional.

Committee chairperson Thandi Tobias-Pokolo said in a statement on behalf of the committee that there was nothing unconstitutional about the bill.

Fears that the bill would threaten food security were ungrounded.

"Only properties which are in the public interest may be expropriated for public purpose when the bill becomes law. Not all properties will be expropriated," Tobias-Pokolo said.

She also responded to claims by the DA that the bill would give the powers to expropriate only to the Minister of Public Works, who would carry out such expropriation with the assistance of Expropriation Advisory Boards.

Tobias-Pokolo said the Minister of Public Works had always had the power to expropriate, even in the current Expropriation Act of 1975.

"The only act that is unconstitutional is the 1975 Expropriation Act, as it is not aligned with the Constitution of the country. If the bill is passed, it will regulate all expropriation activities in South Africa," Tobias-Pokolo said.

- SAPA