Newly elected Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Chairperson Athol Trollip says the fact the he was re-elected by a congress of the size and diversity of the current one proves that his party is not racist.
“I’m actually delighted. Mmusi closed the congress today by saying that this is no home for racists or racism. He also said that three years ago when he was first elected and I was first elected and endorsed that immediately. I think it’s an incredible honor and very humbling that I could have been re-elected by a congress that is as diverse as this one. A lot of speculation in the beginning that it was a race race but our delegates showed that we are truly a party of all South Africa, that I could be re-elected when everyone was saying that it was all going to be about race,” says Trollip.
Trollip beat Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimang for the position at the 7th DA Federal Congress which was held over the weekend in the capital city.
The congress was the biggest of the party so far with over 2000 delegates and party leaders also say it was also the most diverse the party has ever had.
Trollip says his win shows what kind of party the DA is.
“I think it’s a great endorsement for what we stand for in this party and I’m very proud to be part of this party,” says Trollip.
The party also elected Ivan Henry, Micheal Waters and Refiloe Nt’sekh as deputy federal chairpersons.
Mmusi Maimane and James Selfe were elected unopposed as Federal Leader and Chairperson of the council respectively.
