Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said there have been misconceptions about the Expropriation Act, including recent comments made on social media by US President Donald Trump.
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has promised investors that there will be no land grabbing or land confiscation in South Africa.
Macpherson made the remarks while addressing the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday.
“We are also well aware that investor confidence is directly linked to policy certainty,” he said.
According to Macpherson, there have been misconceptions about the Expropriation Act, including recent comments made on social media by US President Donald Trump.
“I want to be unequivocal: No one in South Africa is having their land confiscated. As the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, land grabs will never be allowed.
“This is my commitment to the people of South Africa and our partners around the world,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act last month.
The minister said the Act sets out a clear legal framework under which expropriation may take place — always with due process and court oversight.
He stated that Section 25 of the Constitution enshrined property rights in the highest law of our country.
Macpherson added that the government committed to working with international partners to strengthen their relations with potential partners.
“This government is committed to working with international partners — not against them — to ensure investor confidence remains strong.
“As the Minister responsible for this bill, I am also committed to ensuring that it is constitutional and that there will be no arbitrary land grabs by the state in South Africa.
“Property rights are not only about protecting investments but also about ensuring that the rule of law is upheld in all sectors of society,” he said.
The land issue has sparked concern among many people about how much land will be grabbed or sold.
Trump took to X on Monday, threatening to cut foreign aid and impose sanctions on South Africa over what he called "confiscation" of land.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn't want to mention.
“A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won't stand for it, we will act.
"Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump said on X.
Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema said land expropriation will happen without compensation.
Ramaphosa also responded to Trump that South Africans were not land grabbers.
IOL Politics
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