The deadline for the submission of nominations for candidates who want to contest the DA’s federal elections has ended. Earlier on Friday outgoing federal Chair, Wilmot James, announced he would run against Mmusi Maimane for the position of party leader.
James and Mmusi Maimane are the two candidates who will contest the position of DA federal leader which is currently held by outgoing leader Helen Zille.
The Federal Chairperson position will be contested by Eastern Cape Leader, Athol Trollip, outgoing Deputy Federal Chairperson, Makashule Gana and DA Member of the Provincial legislature, Masizole Mnqasela.
The DA’s Executive Federal Chairperson, James Selfe, says he will stand for re-election for the same position he is currently holding. His position is expected to be uncontested.
The party’s federal congress is expected to be held in Port Elizabeth on the 9th and 10th of May.
Meanwhile, the DA in KwaZulu-Natal will hold its congress on Saturday to elect its new provincial leadership.
About 600 delegates will converge in Richard’s Bay.
Contenders for the National DA leader position, Federal Chairperson, Wilmot James and Parliamentary Leader, Mmusi Maimane, will address the congress.
Provincial leader, Sizwe Mchunu, is seeking re-election.
Political analyst, Bheki Mngomezulu, says Mchunu is facing a strong contender in DA caucus leader in the eThekwini Municipality, Zwakele Mncwango.
“As much as Mchunu has been running the DA in the province, but there are accusations against him by those who are of the view that he has focused entirely on urban or peri-urban centres and in the process neglected rural areas. Mncawngo has put it in his manifesto that one of his goals is for the DA to have a significant presence in the rural areas.” The Democratic Alliance will hold its sixth Federal Congress on 9 and 10 May 2015, at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Federal Congress is the highest decision-making body of the Party, and is made up of delegates who are ordinary members and public representatives from DA branches across the country. Congress is the only party structure that can elect the Federal Leadership of the party and make amendments to the party’s Federal Constitution.
A total of 21 nominations have been received for the seven positions available. Any member of the party in good standing is allowed to be nominated, and nominations are in a member’s individual capacity and not on behalf of any branch or structure of the party.
The following members have been nominated for the positions described above:
Leader
Dr Wilmot James MP
Mr Mmusi Maimane MP
Mr Adrian Naidoo
Mr Morgan Oliphant
Federal Chairperson
Mr Makashule Gana MP
Mr Masizole Mnqasela MPP
Mr Athol Trollip MPL
Deputy Federal Chairperson (three positions)
Councillor Michael Bond
Mr A.H. Maluleke
Mr Joe McGluwa MP
Dr Ivan Meyer MPP
Mr Stevens Mokgalapa MP
Ms Refiloe Ntsekhe MPL
Ms Desiree Van der Walt MP
Chairperson of Federal Council
Mr James Selfe (unopposed)
Deputy Chairperson of Federal Council
Mr Anthony Benadie MPL
Mr Adrian Naidoo
Mr Thomas Walters MP
Chairperson of the Federal Finance Committee
Mr Alf Lees MP
Mr Dirk Stubbe MP
Mr Andricus Van der Westhuizen MP
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