CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says forced removals will never be allowed again in South Africa.
He was speaking after a two-day debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the National Assembly.
Ramaphosa during his address took the time to clarify parts of the Expropriation Act
He said the apartheid government removed 3,5 million people from D6, Marabastad, Siphiatown, Cato Manor, Kroonstad, and many other places.
According to Ramaphosa this was one of the largest removals of a people in modern history, with many South Africans still experiencing the aftereffects of the crime.
He said as a result there will 'never' allow forced removals in this country.
"We have a constitution that requires just and equitable compensation to be paid in the event of expropriation for a public purpose in the public interest where applicable.
"Our experience of forced removals also explains the constitutional requirements that the state must take reasonable measures within its available resources to foster conditions in which it will enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis," he said.
Ramaphosa emphasised that the process of restitution is not complete and that much needs to be done to heal the divisions of the past.
Adding to this, Ramaphosa took the time to speak on accelerating growth and shifting the country's trajectory of the economy this includes being innovative while also building on the work done in previous years.
This saw him acknowledging the debate about laws passed by the previous administration among those being the Expropriation Act, the NHI Act, and the BELA Act.
The Ramaphosa said he must assent to bills passed by Parliament, unless the president has reservations about its constitutionality, the constitution does not permit that the act of accent by the president be subject to negotiation.
Over the past few months since the formation of the GNU, such laws passed saw a wage being drawn between the parties within the unity.
However, during the SONA 2025 debate response, Ramaphosa affirmed that the the 10 parties within the GNU are willing to work together.