DA’s Steenhuisen to unveil controversial reforms on BEE, Employment Equity, and Expropriation Acts

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is expected to ignite fresh controversy on Monday as the party reveals its proposed changes to the BEE Act, Employment Equity Act, and Expropriation Act.

The party has long viewed the legislation as problematic.

The media briefing is scheduled to take place on Monday in Gauteng at around 11:15 am. 

The DA, the largest partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), has been opposing several key policies introduced by the ANC, which leads the coalition. 

Tensions between the two parties have persisted since the GNU’s formation, with the DA at times threatening to withdraw.

However, the party has ultimately chosen to remain, claiming that it is committed to holding those involved in corruption and nepotism accountable.

Earlier this year, the DA trade and industry spokesperson Wilmot James said the emphasis on race in current legislation was “an easy instrument to use” but ultimately “unfortunate”. 

He argued it should be replaced with a focus on socio-economic redress. 

“The BEE legislation did not necessarily have the consequence of empowering those who need to be empowered,” James said.

His remarks come after amendments were made to the BEE legislation, which aim to severely penalise fronting. 

The updated law includes harsh penalties for misrepresenting an enterprise’s BEE status, such as imprisonment for a period “not exceeding 10 years” or, in the case of a corporate entity, a fine amounting to 10 per cent of annual turnover.

In May this year, the DA filed papers in the Western Cape High Court challenging the recently signed Expropriation Act, calling it “unconstitutional, both substantively and procedurally”.

DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the party was seeking a court order to nullify the Expropriation Act in its current form.

“During the sixth administration, the DA firmly rejected the Act, believing that no government in a democratic country should possess such sweeping powers to expropriate property without compensation,” Zille said.

“We have not forgotten that the apartheid government used similar powers to forcibly remove communities from their land, often with inadequate compensation or none at all. This history teaches us that true redress requires protecting property rights, ensuring that no government is ever given unchecked expropriation powers again.

“It is for this reason that the DA will fight to ensure that every South African can have their property rights defended, protected and advanced,” she added.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Act into law on January 23. 

The legislation provides for the expropriation of land and other property for public and certain other purposes. 

However, a judgment on the DA’s legal challenge is still pending.

Meanwhile, Steenhuisen will be joined at the briefing by several DA Members of the Executive in the Government of National Unity. 

These include Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi MP, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber MP, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube MP, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson MP, Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole MP, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo MP, and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham MP.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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