Democratic Alliance Challenges South Africa Land-Seizure Law in Court as Trump Cites It for 100% Aid Cut
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 3
Democratic Alliance Challenges South Africa Land-Seizure Law in Court as Trump Cites It for 100% Aid Cut
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 3
Summary
Johannesburg's Western Cape High Court opened a challenge to South Africa's Expropriation Act, with the Democratic Alliance and allied groups arguing it breaches constitutional property protections.
Lawyers said the law permits expropriation without compensation after settlement talks fail, while the government says it bars arbitrary seizures and is meant to put unused land to productive use.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the law last year to address land dispossession and inequality rooted in white minority rule that ended in 1994.
Donald Trump has cast the law as a threat to white farmers, using it to justify ending U.S. financial aid to South Africa and imposing steep tariffs; Pretoria rejects that claim.
Proceedings are due to run through the week, but a ruling could take weeks or months in a case that has drawn in AfriForum and the Institute for Race Relations.