The City of Ekurhuleni took a 34-hectare Boksburg property, portion 406 of the Farm Driefontein, without paying compensation. This case is a significant example of Ekurhuleni land expropriation, as the former owners value the site at about R30 million, with later valuations rising as high as R64 million.
The dispute began with an expropriation notice in 2019. It now moves to court-directed mediation in October, ahead of an 18-day trial scheduled for February 2026. The Ekurhuleni land expropriation has therefore become a live legal test.
City’s Housing Case
The city says it needs the land for social housing and for residents in informal settlements. It argues the property stood vacant for decades, with no buildings, leases, or active development. Therefore, it claims the public interest outweighs the owners’ financial claims. This situation highlights how Ekurhuleni tackles land expropriation to unlock housing delivery at scale.
Legal Context
This case will test how courts balance Section 25’s “just and equitable” standard with claims of nil compensation. A new Expropriation Act, signed earlier this year, allows proposals of “nil” compensation in narrow circumstances. However, this matter began under older legislation, and the court will weigh the facts, timelines, and purpose. In short, the case will probe where public interest meets property rights through Ekurhuleni’s approach to land expropriation.
Why it Matters
The outcome could influence how municipalities value idle land and how they motivate expropriation for housing. Property owners fear wider uncertainty around valuations and financing. Meanwhile, officials cite a large housing backlog, daily service pressures, and persistent land invasions. The stakes are high for both sides in this example of Ekurhuleni land expropriation.
The Human Pressure
Ekurhuleni lists 123 informal settlements across roughly 11,900 settlement units and a housing backlog above 427,000. People wait years for formal homes and basic services. That pressure explains the city’s hard line in the Ekurhuleni land expropriation. Yet the owners say they have spent millions in legal costs since losing possession in 2019. The court’s decision will shape future deals, timelines, and compensation in similar disputes.
