Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, has hailed the signing of the Expropriation Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 24 January 2025 as a pivotal step in addressing South Africa’s historical spatial inequalities.

The Expropriation Bill provides a legal framework for organs of State to expropriate land in the public interest for various purposes, supporting the government’s efforts to transform the spatial geography of South Africa.

Over recent years, the government has introduced measures like the National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF), developed by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. The NSDF aims to tackle spatial imbalances by coordinating policies and plans to promote equitable land use and development.

Minister Ramokgopa emphasized the importance of the Expropriation Bill in achieving spatial planning goals:

“The National Spatial Development Framework sets out the goals for spatial planning in South Africa which cannot be complete without access to land. The signing into law of the Expropriation Bill means that we can reach the goals of spatial planning in both urban and rural areas.”

The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 underscores the need to address land market inequities, enabling equitable access to the benefits of urban and rural life. The Expropriation Bill is seen as a tool to achieve spatial justice and further the government’s goal of creating a better life for all South Africans.

The DPME plans to engage with other departments to leverage this legislative milestone for sustainable transformation and ensure inclusive development that leaves no one behind.