The Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned the African National Congress (ANC)-controlled City of Ekurhuleni for what it calls an “unlawful and unconstitutional” attempt to seize private land without compensation. The DA was reacting to reports that a property was expropriated in 2019 during the tenure of then-mayor Mzwandile Masina, with the city declaring the compensation value to be “zero.”

In a statement, the DA acknowledged that the landowners in question may still owe municipal rates, but argued that this does not justify what it terms a precedent-setting assault on property rights. “Legal obligations on rates must be enforced through proper processes, not by setting a precedent that threatens every property owner in South Africa,” the party said.

The DA said “We further condemn the opportunistic role of ANC NEC member and former Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina, who has openly championed this dangerous agenda.”

Framing the dispute as part of a wider national battle, the DA pledged to resist ANC moves toward uncompensated expropriation, which it says could trigger economic collapse and erode democracy. “The DA will fight relentlessly to defend the rule of law and protect private ownership,” said DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp.