Property rights will not be sufficiently protected if the Draft Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill is passed.
This is clearly evident in the written submission made by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) yesterday. The party endorses the objective of promoting human dignity and legal certainty, but besides failing to sufficiently protect property rights, the Bill also has several flaws relating to practical matters.
Over the past two decades, the existing PIE Act has evolved into a system that increasingly saddles private property owners with the financial and legal burden of unlawful land occupations, while government organs fail to fulfil their constitutional obligations.
The proposed legislative amendments inadequately address this imbalance.
The Freedom Front Plus maintains that both the right to housing and property rights are constitutionally enshrined rights. The one may, however, not be enforced in such a way that it, in effect, violates the other. Section 25 of the Constitution protects property rights and remains a cornerstone of economic growth, food security, investor confidence and individual freedom.
A particular cause for concern, in the Freedom Front Plus’s view, is that the Amendment Bill leaves leeway for government’s duty to provide alternative housing to be shifted onto private landowners. In contrast, the Constitutional Court has already confirmed that this responsibility lies with the government and not landowners.
The Freedom Front Plus, therefore, proposed that the Act should clearly provide for a 14-day period within which unlawful and unestablished land occupations can be terminated with the assistance of the police.
Currently, the police frequently refuse to act, because such matters are regarded as civil disputes. Consequently, landowners often cannot obtain legal relief before occupations become established.
In addition, the party proposed that adjacent owners, community organisations and other interested parties should have the right to make eviction applications, and that all relevant government organs be obliged to participate in court proceedings.
Furthermore, public office-bearers who facilitate unlawful land occupations or deliberately fail to act should also be held criminally liable.
The Freedom Front Plus remains committed to dignified housing solutions, but will keep opposing legislation that erodes the rule of law, shifts government failures onto ordinary citizens and undermines property rights.
Freedom Front Plus Manifesto: The FF Plus advocates for a federal system of government in South Africa.
Rando Tank
Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
Dark Hq
A professor in South Africa is teaching her students how to form Emglish sentences.
“Attention class I have two words: Cheetah, and dandelion. Can anybody use these together in a sentence?”
One student raises their hand,
“The cheetah is faster dandelion.”