GQEBERHA – The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has confirmed that it intends to explore the expropriation of privately owned land in Bethelsdorp, Gqeberha, to advance the Kleinskool Housing Project Phase 2, following what it describes as numerous unsuccessful attempts to engage the registered landowners.

The move comes after the African National Congress (ANC) in the Nelson Mandela Region announced that a special council sitting on 8 June approved the initiation of an expropriation process without compensation to facilitate township establishment and the transfer of title deeds to residents whose homes were built on the affected property.

Speaking to PE Express, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya confirmed the Metro’s intention to explore the expropriation of the said land following numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact and engage the registered landowners regarding the property in question.

“The Municipality wishes to emphasise that expropriation is considered only as a measure of last resort after all reasonable efforts to engage property owners have been exhausted,” he said.

He added that any process relating to the expropriation of land will be undertaken in full compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, particularly Section 25, which governs property rights and provides for expropriation in the public interest and for a public purpose, subject to just and equitable compensation.

“Furthermore, the Municipality will ensure adherence to the provisions of the Expropriation Act, 2024 (Act No. 13 of 2024), as well as all other applicable legislative and administrative prescripts regulating land acquisition and expropriation processes in South Africa,” he said.

“The Municipality remains committed to acting lawfully, transparently and in the best interests of residents and service delivery imperatives,” Soyaya concluded.

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