Private property is the cornerstone of agricultural sustainability and food security

AgriSA is disappointed by the signing of the Expropriation Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on January 23, 2025. The bill facilitates the expropriation of land with nil compensation under specified conditions in the public interest.

“The signing of the Expropriation Bill poses a risk to private property rights which is the primary basis on which South African agriculture is structured. Consequently, the Bill poses a risk to agricultural sustainability and food security. Therefore, AgriSA is committed to defending property values and rights and will utilize all necessary resources in consultation with legal experts to uphold these principles,” says Johann Kotzé, AgriSA CEO.

AgriSA actively participated in the NEDLAC and parliamentary processes from 2013 to 2020, contributing to the 2016 Expropriation Bill that formed the basis for the recently signed legislation. On April 29, 2024, AgriSA addressed a letter to the President, urging him to consider exercising his constitutional powers under section 84(2)(b) and (c). The organization requested that the President either refer the Expropriation Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration or consult the Constitutional Court for a decision on the bill’s constitutionality before signing.

In its letter, AgriSA highlighted its commissioning of an independent investigation into the macroeconomic impact assessment of a policy of land expropriation without compensation in South Africa conducted by GOPA Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

“This assessment reiterated AgriSA’s long-held conviction that fostering capital formation is interlinked with private property rights and is subsequently a crucial prerequisite for economic development, job creation, and growth,” says Kotzé.

“While supporting the need for transformation and land reform in the agricultural sector, AgriSA emphasizes that it must not come at the expense of the economy and investor confidence, added Kotzé.
The organization remains dedicated to protecting private property rights and fostering the growth and stability of South Africa’s agricultural sector while ensuring food security for all.

Source: AgriSA