Civil rights organisation AfriForum on Wednesday said its members were extremely worried about the plans to expropriate property without compensation.

The organisation plans to make oral submissions to the parliamentary committee which is reviewing Section 25 of the Constitution.    

An Economic Freedom Fighters motion to review Section 25 of the Constitution was recently successful with the backing of the ruling African National Congress.

AfriForum deputy CEO Ernst Roets has written to committee chairperson Vincent Smith explaining that it viewed land expropriation without compensation as ahistorical because it was based on a distortion of the past. AfriForum also said the proposed expropriation was dishonest because it relied on a “fraudulent state audit” and added that it was destructive because it targeted property rights, despite the protection of property rights being the cornerstone of economic growth.

“…it is racist because it is obviously driven by an underlying racist motive; and it will come down to theft if the property of lawful owners is expropriated,” added AfriForum.    

The organisation reiterated that it is considering legal action to declare the process to amend Section 25 of the Constitution unjust because of procedural irregularities.

They say they will participate in the process with the aim of “laying important facts on the table”.

AfriForum has already submitted to Parliament by hand a memorandum on expropriation without compensation, as well as a petition signed by about 250 000 members of the public.

The organisation also indicated that it would participate in the public participation process in this regard.