Cape Town – There has not been any land expropriation in South Africa by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in the past 10 years.
This information was revealed on Wednesday, (19 March 2025), by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean William Macpherson in a written reply to questions in Parliament.
The minister was responding to several questions regarding land expropriation since 2014 that were asked by S M Gana from the Rise Mzansi party.
In his written reply, Minister Dean William Macpherson said: “There hasn’t been any land expropriation by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure over the period of the past 10 years”.
However, the minister said his department was “supporting Eskom with expropriation of around 27 properties (servitudes) for the purposes of overhead power lines for increased energy capacity for our country”.
Minister Macpherson explained that the owners disputed the amount offered by the department and sought a figure of R3 729 950.
He said the State engaged the services of its private valuer who came up with the sum of R2 855 000.
The amount was approved and paid by the department.
Minister Macpherson said Eskom undertook to pay back this money.
“The supported intended Expropriation of Servitudes as alluded to above, for power lines extension by Eskom covers a number of provinces,” the minister said.
“The supported Eskom expropriation of around 27 properties (servitudes) was for the purposes of overhead power lines to increase energy capacity for our country.”
The minister was also asked how many land expropriation cases were taken to court and were reversed.
Minister Macpherson responded saying: “The supported Eskom expropriation process for servitudes is still being processed guided by the Electricity Regulations Act read with Expropriation Act No 63 of 1975.
“To date, no litigation has been pursued in this regard since the matter has not been finalised”.
On whether any productive or active farms were expropriated in the public interest, Minister Macpherson said: “As alluded to above, the Department is supporting the Eskom expropriation process (Servitudes) which is guided by Electricity Regulation Act read with Expropriation Act No 63 of 1975 for extension of their Power lines”.
