Current KwaZulu-Natal DA deputy leader Sithembiso Ngema says he is ready to lead the party to a local government elections victory.
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The DA's deputy provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema and current member of the provincial legislature Mzamo Billy, have emerged as contenders for leadership of the party in KwaZulu-Natal.
The deadline for nominations closes on Monday and senior leaders such a current chairperson, Dean Macpherson, his deputy Martin Meyer as well as Umngeni Local Municipality mayor Chris Pappas have shown no interest in the provincial leader position.
Ngema and Billy are the only candidates so far who have accepted the nominations for the position.
Macpherson wants to return to the chairperson position in the province while Meyer has accepted nomination for the deputy leader position. Current provincial leader Francois Rodgers, who is also Finance MEC, has already announced his impending retirement from politics.
The elective congress will be held on May 9 in Durban.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Ngema said he is ready to assume leadership of the party and lead it to the local government elections.
“I feel humbled for being nominated for the position and I am grateful to those who put their trust in me to lead our party in this crucial year of local government elections. I want to thank them and assure them that I am ready to take our party to the next level. I will fight tooth and nail to grow the party from strength to strength if elected,” said Ngema.
DA MP, Mzamo Billy has also raised his hand for the DA's KwaZulu-Natal provincial leader position.
Image: Independent Media Archives
At last week's Federal Congress, in Midrand and attended by around 2,400 delegates, Geordin Hill-Lewis was elected the party's national leader, taking over from John Steenhuisen, while Solly Msimanga was elected Federal Chairperson, replacing Helen Zille.
The pair fought off stiff competitors to emerge victorious and is now tasked with steering the party towards the upcoming local government elections.
Hill-Lewis, in his address after the announcement, commanded his opponent, Sibusiso Dyonase and called him a rising star within the DA.
“I got a chance to know him a bit. What a cool campaign you ran. In this party, we want the best for one another. I know you are going to do great things in the DA and South Africa,” he said.
Hill-Lewis also congratulated the new leadership and said many of them started with him at DASO (the party's student organisation) and he looks forward to leading with them. He thanked all party members for putting faith in him and he would lead with humility.
Speaking shortly after his election, Hill-Lewis said the party was entering a “new chapter”, shifting its focus from opposition and governance at the local level to competing for national power.
“The question is whether the DA can lead the country… whether we can become the largest party in national government,” he said. “My answer is a resounding yes.”
Hill-Lewis said his leadership would be defined by a singular mission: expanding the DA’s electoral base and positioning it to take control of national government in the coming years.
He said the DA would remain a “strong and principled partner” in government, while continuing to oppose policies it believes undermine economic growth or constitutional principles. This includes opposition to what he described as “crony enrichment schemes” and policies that threaten property rights or merit-based appointments.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za