Cape Town – Over the past decade there have been no expropriation of land in South Africa by the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure.
This information was made public on Wednesday (19 March 2025) by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean William McPherson, in a written response to Congressional questions.
The minister had answered several questions about land expropriation since 2014, which were asked by the Rise Mzansi party by the SM Gana.
Minister Dean William McPherson said in a written response that “there has been no expropriation by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure over the past decade.”
However, the minister said his department is “supporting Eskom with the expropriation of about 27 property (services) for the purposes of overhead power lines to increase the energy capacity of our country.”
Minister MacPherson explained that the owner challenged the amounts provided by the department and sought the figures R3 729 950.
He said the state is engaged in the services of private appraisers who came up with a total of R2 855 000.
The amount was approved and paid by the department.
Minister Macpherson said Eskom has taken on repaying the money.
“As Eskom's power line expansion covers many states, as suggested above, the expropriation of supported services is
“The supported Eskom expropriation of approximately 27 properties (services) was the purpose of overhead power lines to increase the country's energy capacity.”
The Minister was also asked what land expropriation cases were taken to court and turned around.
Minister Macpherson said:
“To date, no litigation has been pursued in this regard as the issue has not been confirmed.”
Regarding whether productive or active farms have been expropriated into the public interest, Minister MacPherson said: “As mentioned above, the department supports the Eskom expropriation process (service) led by the Power Regulation Act, read in Expropriation Act No. 63 of 1975, for the expansion of power lines.”
