FMF reaffirms resolute opposition to EWC after civil society roundtable

FMF Press Release (Growth Ownership Land 1)

4 February 2025

The Free Market Foundation (FMF) has reaffirmed its commitment to oppose the unconstitutional Expropriation Act, citing the legal, political, and social responses necessary to prevent the confiscation of property without due compensation.

This follows after the FMF convened a crisis roundtable at their Johannesburg offices on Tuesday, 04 February with various other prominent civil society organisations including AfriForum, the Afrikanerbond, the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU), Sakeliga, Neasa, as well as independent analyst, Phumlani Majozi, and prominent advocate, Mark Oppenheimer.

According to the FMF, the Act represents an existential threat to the whole of the South African economy if it is not substantially revised – or ideally repealed and replaced – to remedy the inherent procedural and constitutional deficiencies which make up a significant portion of the Act.

Should the government fail to address the shortcomings of this pernicious legislation, the FMF will approach the courts to halt the commencement and the implementation of the Act.

“Having engaged with many of our colleagues who collectively represent a broad swathe of stakeholders who will be affected by the application of the Act, we are more convinced than ever that this legislation poses an enormous threat to freedom and prosperity in our country,” said David Ansara, Chief Executive Officer at the FMF.

The FMF argued that beyond the much-publicised risks of expulsion from international treaties and agreements, the threat of eroding property rights in South Africa could set the economy back by decades.

“The political parties in the GNU have been equivocal in opposing expropriation without compensation. It is therefore incumbent upon civil society organisations to step into the breach and stand up for the property rights of all South Africans,” Ansara concluded. 

Ends.

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