For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.  

Making headlines: Land reform expert says govt has higher burden to justify land expropriation with new Act; AfriForum condemns ‘offensive, inflammatory’ statements targeting organisation; And, Rwanda central bank holds policy rate for second meeting running

Land reform expert says govt has higher burden to justify land expropriation with new Act;

Under the controversial recently assented Expropriation Act, the South African government actually has a higher burden to prove and justify why an expropriation is necessary owing to the Act being drafted in a hugely administrative and burdensome way.

This was according to Werksmans Attorneys director for land reform Bulelwa Mabasa, who stressed that the Act promoted just and equitable compensation, only providing for no compensation in very pointed circumstances and instances.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Expropriation Bill. The Bill has been met with criticism and concern, particularly the section that sets out expropriation with nil compensation.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, Mabasa noted that the argument that had been raised about expropriation without compensation was that the Constitution inextricably linked expropriation with compensation.

She highlighted that the process to expropriate under the new Act was in fact extremely laborious and time consuming, making it more difficult for the State to expropriate.

AfriForum condemns ‘offensive, inflammatory’ statements targeting organisation

Lobby group AfriForum has hit out against what it termed “offensive and inflammatory” statements directed at the organisation, specifically pointing to statements by government officials such as Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya and politicians such as African National Congress National spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.

AfriForum has come under fire from various quarters in South Africa, following tensions with the US over the Expropriation Act, which many are blaming AfriForum for instigating.

The organisation made an urgent appeal following the distribution of a video on social media, which it said used “seriously offensive and threatening language”. It also accused government officials and political leaders of making apparently offensive and inflammatory statements that it said increases tension between cultural communities.

The organisation considered the statement by Bhengu-Motsiri that AfriForum “should not be left alone” in a very serious light.

And, Rwanda central bank holds policy rate for second meeting running

Rwanda's central bank kept its key interest rate at 6.5%, the second "hold" decision in a row as it said inflation was expected to remain within its target range.

Annual inflation rose to 7.4% in January, approaching the top of the central bank's 3%-8% target range.

The bank has raised its average inflation forecast for this year to around 6.5%, up from 5.8%, and sees it at 4.1% in the following year.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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