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Join Hands to Prevent Expropriation Without Compensation Becoming the Norm

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Join Hands to Prevent Expropriation Without Compensation Becoming the Norm:

It is crucial for all stakeholders to join hands in preventing the Ekurhuleni Metro’s bid to expropriate land worth approximately R30 million without compensation from setting a legal precedent.

The 34-hectare plot of land in question at Driefontein in Boksburg belongs to Business Venture Investments 900 (BVI 900). The company is not contesting the expropriation, but objects to the nil compensation offered.

The case, which has a direct bearing on section 25 of South Africa’s Constitution, will be heard by the Johannesburg High Court in February next year.

In light of the seriousness of the matter, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will engage with organisations, such as the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TLU SA), Sakeliga and other interest groups, to take concerted action.

The case raises serious questions about the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s truthfulness about the reality of expropriation without compensation.

Just a few months ago, President Ramaphosa stated that South Africa, like the United States (US) and other countries, has always had expropriation laws to balance the need for public use of land with protecting property owners’ rights.

He openly denied that expropriation without compensation is taking place in South Africa to President Donald Trump, adding that he “looks forward” to bilateral discussions with the Trump administration to reach a “common understanding” on the matter.

Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa has already signed the new Expropriation Act, which provides for nil compensation. He described it as a “first step toward transformation and land reform”.

This incident of expropriation in Ekurhuleni clearly demonstrates that those were certainly not hollow words, and that no privately owned land in South Africa is safe. In addition, he was also not playing open cards with President Trump.

The Freedom Front Plus will see to it that the US administration is thoroughly informed of the actual state of affairs. This serves as tangible proof that property rights in South Africa are by no means secure, regardless of the Constitution’s provisions.

Moreover, the Freedom Front Plus would like to remind President Ramaphosa of the conditions set by the Trump administration for restoring trade relations between South Africa and the US.

One such condition is that property may only be expropriated for market value following a proper legal process.

The Freedom Front Plus believes it is quite realistic to expect a wave of expropriations without compensation if the Ekurhuleni Metro is ultimately successful in this case.

It may simultaneously create a dangerous precedent for the future, which could deprive landowners of any future legal recourse.

This is a serious matter affecting all South Africans. So, for now, all South Africans should set their differences aside and join hands to safeguard property rights in our country.

Freedom Front Plus Election Performance: In the 2019 elections, the FF Plus increased its parliamentary representation.

Read More at the Source

– MyZA

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The World’s Largest Man-Made Urban Forest

One of the most surprising facts about Johannesburg is its status as a “green” city. When the first settlers arrived, the Highveld was a barren, treeless grassland (savannah). To support the mining industry, millions of trees were imported and planted to provide timber for mine underground supports. Fast forward to the present day, and Johannesburg is widely considered the largest man-made urban forest in the world.

There are an estimated 10 million trees within the city limits. This includes 1.2 million trees on sidewalks and in parks, and over 4.8 million in private gardens. This forest is so dense that satellite images of the northern suburbs often resemble a tropical rainforest. The most iconic of these trees is the Jacaranda, which was imported from South America in the early 20th century. Every October and November, the city turns a vibrant shade of purple as thousands of Jacarandas bloom simultaneously. However, this “forest” also highlights the city’s historical inequality; during the Apartheid era, trees were predominantly planted in wealthy white suburbs, leaving townships like Soweto as dusty plains. In the last two decades, “Greening Soweto” initiatives have seen hundreds of thousands of trees planted to bridge this “green divide,” emphasizing the role of urban forestry in social justice and climate cooling.