Freshness tracker · ZASouth Africa

Expropriation Act enacted — constitutional property framework updated

In force Other

The Expropriation Act signed into law on 23 January 2025 replaced apartheid-era expropriation legislation with a framework aligned to the post-1996 constitution. Permits expropriation at zero compensation in specific circumstances (abandoned land, speculative land, state land). Does not affect standard foreign real-estate ownership but the political symbolism has been contested; mover-relevant for property-investor visa applicants.

Who it affects

Primarily relevant to property investors; tangentially to foreign buyers.

Sources

Primary: Government Gazette ↗

Corroborating: South African Government ↗

Verified 2026-04-19 · methodology · report a correction