South Africa’s Expropriation Act: Balancing Property Rights and Urgent Land Reform
South Africa’s newly passed Act 13 of 2024 replaces the law in the era of segregation, bringing property acquisitions into line with constitutional principles. The bill details the procedure, outlines the compensation guidelines, and introduces a controversial “zero compensation” clause that applies only to land that is expropriated in the public interest. Law professors and scholars who recently edited a book on land acquisition pointed out that although the bill has passed voluntary agreements requiring authorities to protect landowners in progress, there may be no urgency to carry out a thorough need to address historical inequality. Land reform. The legislation sparked debate on its impact on private property rights rather than its potential as a tool to reduce land inequality. As South Africans meet these challenges, the bill will carefully examine how best to balance constitutional safeguards with effective, equitable land redistribution.
source: dialogue
