Land expropriation without compensation, no need to panic
Category News
Land expropriation without compensation, although largely aimed at agricultural land, is a topic of concern.
Given the political value and with the 2019 General Elections looming, it was expected that the ANC would move on it. Vitally though, it is very early in the process and with so many concerns and no workable case study to draw from, there is no need for property owners, sellers and prospective buyers to panic. It remains business as usual.
The question of land expropriation without compensation has been a hot political topic over the last few years. With the 2019 General Elections looming, it was largely expected that the ANC would make a move on it and hence Parliament adopted a motion on it in late February. The matter is now with Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee who will consider whether to amend the Constitution and how it will be done.
It is vital to note that it is very early in the process and there is no need to panic or pay heed to sensational publicity on the topic. The process is a long way off from being proclaimed into law and would need to pass through rigorous processes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been very clear and has reiterated in Parliament and publicly on a number of occasions that no land grabs in any form will be tolerated whatsoever. Any expropriation will be done within the confines of the laws and with the utmost care and in pursuance of economic growth and development and business and investor confidence.
SA has a very robust and progressive Constitution, regarded as one of the best in the world and all laws have to be in line with the constitution. Property rights are currently protected by Section 25, but there are many other safeguards and such a law is expected to be subjected to vigorous litigious tests. It would also be necessary to change the Land Restitution Act and there are currently no proposed or draft amendments to either this act, or the constitution.
Without detracting from the need for land reform and redistribution, constitutional and legal experts and economists have expressed doubt about whether such a law would pass the many other tests provided for by the Constitution.
The current proposal is around agricultural land and there are many concerns surrounding the mechanisms of expropriation and effect on the greater community, property owners and in particular, the financial and economic impact. The banks for example, in addition to agricultural land bonds, also provide extensive loans to this sector hedged against crop yields and other assets. There is also the impact on the Futures Market to consider.
Also of great concern, is the fact that land expropriation and nationalisation has a poor record internationally and most experts believe that there is no case study of success to draw from. There are already concerns about current food insecurity and lack of success insofar as agricultural land reforms are concerned.
Some commentators have proposed that perhaps a hybrid approach in the form of a blended financing model and BEE in agriculture might be used to transform productive farmland, specifically land which is uninhabited, unused and unbonded, but again, given the lack of success thus far, this too would need a whole new approach.
In any event, what is clear, is that government is still a long way off from a workable solution and the need for economic growth will have to drive any land reform. It is therefore vital for property owners, buyers and investors to note that it remains business as usual for property ownership, the property market and all legislative protection is still in force.
The Seeff Property Group will also, as a member of REBOSA (the real estate business owners of South Africa), participate in making the necessary representations on behalf of the industry as and when necessary.
It is vital to note that it is very early in the process and there is no need to panic or pay heed to sensational publicity on the topic. The process is a long way off from being proclaimed into law and would need to pass through rigorous processes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been very clear and has reiterated in Parliament and publicly on a number of occasions that no land grabs in any form will be tolerated whatsoever. Any expropriation will be done within the confines of the laws and with the utmost care and in pursuance of economic growth and development and business and investor confidence.
SA has a very robust and progressive Constitution, regarded as one of the best in the world and all laws have to be in line with the constitution. Property rights are currently protected by Section 25, but there are many other safeguards and such a law is expected to be subjected to vigorous litigious tests. It would also be necessary to change the Land Restitution Act and there are currently no proposed or draft amendments to either this act, or the constitution.
Without detracting from the need for land reform and redistribution, constitutional and legal experts and economists have expressed doubt about whether such a law would pass the many other tests provided for by the Constitution.
The current proposal is around agricultural land and there are many concerns surrounding the mechanisms of expropriation and effect on the greater community, property owners and in particular, the financial and economic impact. The banks for example, in addition to agricultural land bonds, also provide extensive loans to this sector hedged against crop yields and other assets. There is also the impact on the Futures Market to consider.
Also of great concern, is the fact that land expropriation and nationalisation has a poor record internationally and most experts believe that there is no case study of success to draw from. There are already concerns about current food insecurity and lack of success insofar as agricultural land reforms are concerned.
Some commentators have proposed that perhaps a hybrid approach in the form of a blended financing model and BEE in agriculture might be used to transform productive farmland, specifically land which is uninhabited, unused and unbonded, but again, given the lack of success thus far, this too would need a whole new approach.
In any event, what is clear, is that government is still a long way off from a workable solution and the need for economic growth will have to drive any land reform. It is therefore vital for property owners, buyers and investors to note that it remains business as usual for property ownership, the property market and all legislative protection is still in force.
The Seeff Property Group will also, as a member of REBOSA (the real estate business owners of South Africa), participate in making the necessary representations on behalf of the industry as and when necessary.
Author: Seeff
Beyond your expectation