President Ramaphosa Signs Expropriation Bill Into Law, Marking Key Step In Spatial Transformation

President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the Expropriation Bill in to law that details how the government can take land for the public good in different situations.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa praised the signing, saying it is an important step in changing South Africa's land distribution.

In recent years, the government has been working to reshape the country's land distribution.

"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," Ramokgopa said, SA News reported.

He added, "The National Development Plan 2030 speaks of the need to address inequities in the land market that make it difficult for the poor to access the benefits of life in towns and cities."

The minister explained that the Expropriation Bill will help achieve spatial justice for communities as the government continues working to improve the lives of its people.

The National Spatial Development Framework has been introduced, led by the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DPME) along with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

The goal of the Spatial Development Framework is to fix South Africa's past land imbalances by offering guidance and coordinating policies, plans, and programs related to land planning, development, and use.

The Expropriation Bill will help put the Spatial Development Framework into action by setting rules on how the government can take land for the public good in different situations.

After the president signed the Expropriation Bill into law, the DPME will work with other government departments to figure out how to make the most of this opportunity to create real and lasting change that benefits everyone.

Last month, Ramaphosa signed the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill into law, which focuses on improving nuclear safety. The bill covers areas like cleaning up defense facilities and ensuring airline pilot safety.