Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen urged South Africans on Friday to urgently submit their objections against what he says is the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) threat of land expropriation without compensation, insisting that citizens must not place their property rights in the hands of the ruling party.

This follows the ANC’s decision in December to publish a draft Bill for public comment, which aims to change the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation.

The proposed amendment says: “(3A) a court may, where land and any improvements thereon are expropriated for the purposes of land reform, determine that the amount of compensation is nil”.

However, the ANC says it does not support the amendment and wants Cabinet to decide on expropriated land payments as its says “court processes are arduous”.

Steenhuisen warned that this decision would place citizen’s homes, businesses or land at risk.

The sub-committee in charge has given the public until January 31 to make written submissions.

“The Constitution, as it stands, is not a barrier to land reform. The corrupt and incompetent ANC government is. We don’t have to change the Constitution, undermine your right to own property, and sink South Africa’s economy to provide legal and thorough land reform,” Steenhuisen said.

He added that citizens must stand up for their property rights, and encourage others to do the same.

Interested parties can visit www.protectpropertyrights.co.za and lodge a formal objection, which the DA says it will take to Parliament.