The Expropriation Bill has negative consequences for South Africa and will leave the country lagging behind successful economies, a group of concerned parties said on Wednesday.
The interim committee for the defence of property rights said the Bill is based on the perception that white South Africans have no moral right to own land.
The group, which includes organisations and political parties such as AgriSA, AfriForum, the Afrikanerbond and the Democratic Alliance, said it would address the implications of the Bill at a number of conferences in July.
Other members include the FW de Klerk Foundation, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Agricultural Employers’ Organisation, Freedom Front Plus, the Afrikaner front and the National Taxpayers’ Union.
The group says the expropriation of white-owned property at less than the market value is not justifiable.
”The Bill is based on the false perception that white South Africans have no moral right to ownership of land in particular, but also property in general, as everything they possess is the result of wrongful deprivation,” the group said.
The group said it will hold two conferences that will discuss the origin and history of land and property ownership as well as the distribution of wealth in South Africa.
The conferences are also expected to discuss the implications of the Bill on food security, inter-group relations and on the South African Constitution. — Sapa