South African Opposition Sues over Expropriation Bill After Trump’s Criticism

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a leading South African opposition, filed a lawsuit in state court last week against the expropriation law that President Donald Trump criticised in an execution order.

As reported by Breitbart News, Trump has issued an executive order to halt aid in South Africa over expropriation of property without compensation and laws that allow attacks on Israel and assistance to Iran.

On Monday, the DA announced it had filed a lawsuit against the expropriation law. from news24.com:

The DA has stepped up efforts to challenge the expropriation law and filed court documents with the Western Cape High Court of South Africa.

Helen Jill, chairman of the DA Federal Council, made a statement Monday.

Jill said the expropriation law that President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed into law is substantially and procedurally unconstitutional.

a statement The DA website has more details (original emphasis):

We reject this law. This is because democratic governments do not believe that such drastic powers should not be granted to expropriate property without compensation.

The apartheid government has not forgotten that similar powers are used to forcefully eliminate communities that are often inadequate or not compensated at all. This history teaches us that true remedies require the protection of property rights.

…

Policy uncertainty regarding states' ability to protect property rights is a key deterrent to domestic and foreign investment. It ultimately imposes economic growth and kills work.

The statement did not mention Trump, and the DA has been opposed to the law for several years, but his criticism has shaken South Africa's politics.

The DA is currently in a coalition with the African National Congress (ANC), the country's largest party, at the national level. The fight over expropriation has raised tensions within the Union.