Zuma asks for advice on parliamentary process followed on Expropriation Bill in wake of petitions

President Jacob Zuma has requested Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces to advise him on the process followed by Parliament in passing the Expropriation Bill.

This is in the light of petitions received against the signing of the Bill into law from individuals and various organisations‚ according to the Presidency.

The Expropriation Bill was passed by Parliament and referred to the President for assent and signing into law. The Bill‚ among others‚ provides for the expropriation of property for a public purpose or in the public interest.

The Presidency said on Monday that the petitions received raised a number of procedural issues which included that:

(i) the procedures followed by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and some provincial legislatures in passing the Bill were inconsistent with the Constitution.

(ii) the NCOP failed to facilitate sufficient consultation with the public prior to the adoption of the Bill.

(iii) the Bill was not referred to the National House of Traditional Leaders as required in terms of section 18(1)(a) of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act‚ 2003 (Act No. 41 of 2003).

“Accordingly‚ the President has requested Parliament to advise him on process followed in passing the Bill.”