Banks must clarify their position on EWC
5 August 2022
The ANC made it clear at its weekend Policy Conference that it is not backing down on its desire to implement Expropriation without Compensation (EWC). While this has sparked some debate, major banks in the country have yet to declare where they stand on the matter.
President Cyril Ramaphosa told the conference that “(we) must undertake to make a dramatic, as well as a disruptive, lasting change”, adding that “despite the setback of our efforts to amend Section 25 of our [sic] Constitution, we must continue to pursue all available options, including through legislation, like the Expropriation Bill, to implement the resolution of our 54th Conference on land redistribution without compensation”.
The IRR finds it deeply concerning that the major banks have not said anything in response to these and other recent ANC statements on EWC. It is for this reason that we have written to the banks seeking answers to the following questions:
Do you support the property rights of South Africans?
Do you consider the financial interests of your clients to be connected to their property rights?
Will you make it clear to South Africans that you are willing to stand up for their financial interests, as your moral and fiduciary responsibility is to act on behalf of your clients?