Expropriation bill no threat to investment: Nxesi

Author: SABC

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi has told the NCOP’s Select Committee on Economic and Business Development that there is no need to fear the expropriation bill and it should not be seen as a threat to investment. Nxesi made the remarks after committee members scrutinised the bill. The bill was passed by the National Assembly last week. It is now with the NCOP’s select committee which is expected to conduct Public hearings in provinces in a few weeks’ time.

 

Nxesi says South Africa is not unique.

“Every government, the world over, national or provincial or even the municipalities, they need powers to expropriate for development. We must not fear development because we need roads; we need dams; we need everything. The current situation is unaffordable where you have to negotiate for a piece of land for more than three, four, five years. So, we want to fast-track this thing, but we also say we must put proper procedures which everybody has to follow.” AgriSA’s legal and policy advisor, Annelize Crosby, says the definition of expropriation should be removed from the bill.

 

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