COSATU statement on the president’s decision to send back the Expropriation bill
26 July 2016
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted the South African president’s decision to send back the Expropriation Bill back to parliament for advice, from both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, on the procedures followed in passing the bill. This follows concern that some procedures that were followed to pass the bill were inconsistent with the Constitution.
The federation accepts and understands the reasons behind this decision, and we are hoping that Parliament will give clarity and also sort out any objectionable procedural matters that have arisen. The federation is also urging the National Assembly to ensure that everything is done within the ambit of the law ,because we do not want to see vexatious litigants like the DA, SAIRR, FMF or Helen Suzman Foundation, using some legal loopholes to kill or water down this bill. Parliament must dry up the swamp in which these organisations feed and breed.
COSATU strongly believes that all laws must be in line with the progressive and transformative provisions of our democratic constitution; and we are of the view that this Act will easily pass the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court. In fact we encourage the National Assembly and the NCOP to comprehensively respond to the president ,so that they can expose the fallacies of the DA, SAIRR and FMF once and for all on this issue.
This Act is in line with both our democratic Constitution and in fact international norms in many countries , including the United States, Europe, Japan etc. Their objections are devoid of facts, logic or honesty. Opponents of this progressive Act, have exposed their inherent opposition to transformation. This Act empowers government to utilise expropriation as a means to fast tracking land reform and address the legacy of apartheid. Clearly these defenders of the status quo are singing for their supper and protecting their ill-gotten gains.