Cape Town - The DA has petitioned President Jacob Zuma in terms of the Constitution to refer the expropriation bill back to Parliament.
This follows advice from its lawyers that the bill is unconstitutional, both in its content, but also because of what the lawyers deem to be procedural irregularities in its passing.
"Addressing this will go a long way in preventing even further economic policy uncertainty which undermines investment, economic growth and job creation. With more than 8.9 million unemployed in South Africa, this must be a priority," the DA said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Chief among its concerns with the bill in its current form is what the DA deems to be a violation of the Constitution with specific reference to the right to property and the right not to be evicted without an order of the court.
"Specifically, this bill needs to be subject to more public participation. Moreover, the errors in adhering to the requirements in the mandating and voting procedures in the Provincial Legislatures and the NCOP need to be addressed - as demanded by the Constitution," said the DA.
"If the president is at all serious about the Constitution in general and property rights in particular, he will not sign the bill."