TLU SA is grateful that the proposed amendment to Article 25 of South Africa’s Constitution about the expropriation of property without compensation was not voted in.
The National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon discussed and voted regarding the amendment to the Constitution to allow expropriation without compensation (EWC). The debate started at 14:00 and just before 16:30 votes were counted. A total of 267 votes were needed for a two-thirds majority, but only 204 voted in favour of the proposed change and 145 against.
Although it was a good result, it is not the end of EWC.
“The process is definitely not over. There are those who are determined to carry it out is some way or another. We as TLU SA are grateful to everyone who voted against it, but we cannot sit back now and forget about the matter,” said TLU SA’s General Manager, Mr. Bennie van Zyl shortly after the vote.
“It will definitely be raised again. And the danger for our country’s economy is that even if it is just talked about, it causes mistrust and consequent damage. Investors are becoming increasingly cautious about investing and our economy is in dire need of these fixed investments. The sooner the ANC stops these talks, the better.
“I would like to thank the ad hoc group for the protection of private property and all 53 organisations that have joined in and played their part in putting the real facts on the table. We are very realistic about the way forward. The matter has not been settled and we will be wide awake toe any attempts to overthrow our economy in this way.”
The expropriation law is also still in process, and this requires only an absolute majority. There will be attempts to implement it again. So, the red lights of danger are still flickering.
Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash
