The group argues that several sections of the legislation are legally flawed and fundamentally contradict the Constitution. According to AfriForum, the Act poses a direct threat to the right to private property in SA and should therefore be declared unconstitutional.

Signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2024, the Expropriation Act outlines the conditions under which the government can seize land or property for public purposes, including provisions for expropriation without compensation.

AfriForum’s Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl, said the Act could be exploited to justify unjust state action. “This legislation opens the door to potential abuse of power and undermines one of the core constitutional rights of South Africans, private property ownership,” van Zyl stated.

The organisation said it remains committed to resisting the law both in SA courts and on international platforms. Van Zyl also noted growing global attention on the issue, including remarks from former United States President Donald Trump, as evidence of the law’s wider implications.

“At the start of the year, we promised our members and the public that we would fight this dangerous piece of legislation through every legal avenue available to us,” van Zyl said. “This court case is a crucial step in our ongoing campaign to safeguard private property rights.”

Government officials have maintained that the law is essential for advancing land reform and correcting historical imbalances. However, critics like AfriForum insist that it risks undermining investor confidence and the rule of law if left unchallenged.

--ChannelAfrica--