NATIONAL NEWS - The DA has vowed to fight tooth and nail to ensure the property clause is retained in the country’s constitution.

Parliament is currently in the process of receiving public representations on its resolution to amend section 25 of the constitution to eliminate the need to compensate previous owners of expropriated land.

Speaking after the end of the party’s marathon Federal Congress this weekend, re-elected leader Mmusi Maimane reiterated that removing the requirement for compensation for expropriated land would not fast-track land restitution. Instead it would put valuable land in the hands of the state.

Among the resolutions taken at the federal congress in Pretoria at the weekend, the official opposition pledged to fight to retain the property clause. The DA’s stance on land reform was that it was attainable without changing the constitution.

Besides the unopposed re-election of Maimane as national leader of the party, James Selfe was retained as federal leader and federal executive chairperson unopposed. Other positions were contested, including the crucial position of federal chairperson.

Nelson Mandela metro mayor Athol Trollip beat his Tshwane Metro counterpart mayor Solly Msimanga and Free State provincial chairperson Annelie Lotriet, MP, to retain the position of the party’s federal chairperson.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.