President Cyril Ramaphosa said parts of the Expropriation Act are problematic during legal proceedings in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday.

The admission comes as the court considers whether the legislation could enable legislated land grabs, a move that threatens property rights and economic stability in South Africa.

Ramaphosa's legal team presented arguments in Cape Town to address the challenges brought against the Act. The president said it is the democratic right of citizens to challenge the law in court [1]. This legal battle follows a period of intense debate over land reform and the government's power to seize property.

Applicants spent two days arguing that specific sections of the Act are unlawful [3]. The core of the dispute centers on whether the law provides sufficient protections for landowners, or if it allows for the seizure of land without adequate compensation.

There are conflicting reports regarding the exact timing of the law's inception. Some records indicate the Expropriation Act was enacted in 2026 [2], while other reports state Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill into law in January 2026 [1]. Regardless of the date, the legal framework is now facing a critical judicial review that could determine the future of land ownership in the country.

The Western Cape High Court is tasked with deciding if the problematic portions of the Act violate the constitution. If the court finds the law unlawful, the government may be forced to rewrite sections of the legislation to ensure it aligns with constitutional mandates regarding property rights.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa said parts of the Expropriation Act are problematic.”

This development signals a potential pivot or softening in the government's approach to land expropriation. By acknowledging that parts of the Act are problematic, Ramaphosa may be preparing for a judicial ruling that requires the legislation to be amended to protect private property rights more robustly, thereby balancing land redistribution goals with the need to maintain investor confidence.