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6th ParliamentConcluded

Section 25 Land Amendment Committee

Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution

Chair: Mathole MotshekgaEst: 7 December 2019National Assembly Rule 253

Explain like I'm 10

Section 25 of the Constitution is about property rights — especially land. Many South Africans feel they lost their land during apartheid and want it back. This committee was tasked with changing the Constitution to allow land to be taken from owners without…

In plain English

Section 25 of the Constitution is about property rights — especially land. Many South Africans feel they lost their land during apartheid and want it back. This committee was tasked with changing the Constitution to allow land to be taken from owners without paying them — for the benefit of the country. After much debate and public hearings, Parliament ultimately could not get the votes needed to change the Constitution.

Legal framing

To initiate and introduce legislation to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to make explicit that land may be expropriated without compensation where the public interest requires it.

Mandate

To initiate and introduce legislation to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to make explicit that land may be expropriated without compensation where the public interest requires it.

Announced7 December 2019
First meeting1 February 2020
Concluded7 December 2021
Report adopted
Category
Constitutional Amendment

Changing the Constitution.

Linked laws

Outcome

What happened

The committee completed its work and a bill was introduced, but Parliament failed to pass the constitutional amendment with the required two-thirds majority before the 6th Parliament dissolved in 2024. The bill lapsed.

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