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The Congress of South African Trade Unions supports the progressive provisions of the Expropriation Bill.

We believe that it is an important legislative tool to build a capacitated developmental state.

We strongly support its progressive provisions which will enable government to expropriate land and other property in support of the constitutionally provided objectives of land reform, addressing the legacies of apartheid and colonialism, ensuring public access and ownership of South Africa`s natural resources, including mineral and water, and providing security for the dispossessed victims of apartheid such as holders of unregistered rights.

These are all provisions provided for in our democratic Constitution. These are areas where government has been blocked in ensuring all citizens have access to land and water.

The bill further provides clear time frames to overcome the current problems where expropriation cases are deliberately delayed in perpetuity by the wealthy.

The new Valuer General will help ensure that public funds are no longer looted by unscrupulous wealthy owners through exorbitant compensation claims as we saw through the R800 million paid for the Mala Mala Game Reserve two years ago. This prevented other cases of land reform from being dealt with.

The bill provides for access to courts which guarantee the legal rights of all affected parties. This is important as the majority of expropriation cases involve ordinary workers` who`s houses may need to be expropriated to allow for roads, dams etc to be built. In such cases fair compensation must be paid.

We strongly oppose any compensation being paid to persons who benefited from immoral apartheid expropriation. We cannot support paying public funds to compensate theft. The bill must be amended to prevent such cases of compensation being paid.

We also insist that the bill be amended to provide for mediation processes (similar to those provided by the CCMA) before expropriation cases may go to court. Courts are expensive and alienating for ordinary workers who cannot afford lawyers etc.

We strongly reject the hysterical attacks on the bill by the DA, Free Market Foundation and SA Institute for Race Relations.

Their objections are devoid of facts, logic or honesty. In fact, all property owners will benefit from the checks and balances and legal protections and certainties provided for in the bill.

Expropriation laws exist in all countries, including the US, UK etc. The existing Expropriation Act was passed in 1975 and reflects the values of that racist and undemocratic era.

Values which the SAIRR, FMF and DA clearly miss and cherish.

COSATU strongly believes that all laws must be in line with the progressive transformation provisions of our democratic constitution.

This bill is in line with those objectives and we thus call for the bill`s adoption by Parliament and for our proposed amendment`s inclusion.

Issued by COSATU