DA, FF+ announce plans to challenge constitutionality of Expropriation Bill

CAPE TOWN - Less than twenty-four hours since Parliament rubberstamped the Expropriation Bill, opposition parties are following through on their threats to challenge its constitutionality. 
 
The bill, which will repeal a 1975 expropriation law, makes provision for the expropriation of property, without compensation, if deemed in the public interest. 
 
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called the bill a reckless attack on the Constitution and along with the Freedom Front Plus on Thursday announced their intentions to take legal action. 
 
The DA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Freedom Front Plus + and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) all opposed the Expropriation Bill when the African National Congress (ANC) used its majority on Wednesday night, backed by the National Freedom Party (NFP), Congress of the People (COPE) and Al Jama-ah, to pass the contentious legislation. 
 
The bill had returned to the National Assembly for endorsement after small changes were made by the National Council of Provinces. 
 
On Thursday, the DA’s deputy chief whip, Annelie Lotriet, announced the legal wheels had been set in motion to challenge the bill. 
 
"The DA has instructed our lawyers to begin working on a letter of demand to the president, asking him to refer the bill back to the National Assembly for consideration on its constitutionality." 
 
Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus said it would also challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court if necessary because it undermined the right to own land and property.
 
Opposition parties have accused the ANC of trying to expropriate through the back door, after an unsuccessful attempt to amend the Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation in 2021.