Voting for a new leadership is underway at the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) 5th Federal Congress in Boksburg, Gauteng.
The voting process is being done through traditional balloting and also a new electronic system.
Hundreds of DA representatives are attending the two-day Congress, which started yesterday.
The run-up to the elections has been characterised by intensive lobbying, including via an extended SMS campaign.
Yesterday, a proposal to have a deputy leader, under Helen Zille, was shot down by delegates. Several resolutions were tabled at the Congress. These include that the party will campaign for amendments to the Constitution to enable parliament to appoint the National Director of Public Prosecution and the National Police Commissioner, and not the president.
Debbie Schaffer, DA shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, told the congress the two appointments need to be reviewed to ensure people who are fit to hold the positions are appointed. The DA also accepted a resolution to set up a corruption busting, mitigation, and monitoring team in every DA caucus in the country. The Congress ends this afternoon.
Nominations and positions being contested:
Party leader: Helen Zille (only nomination)
Federal Chairperson: Wilmont James (incumbent), and Masizole Mnqasela
Deputy Federal Chairperson (three positions):Anchen Dreyer (incumbent)Makashule GanaSandy KalyanDianne Kohler BarnardAnnelie LotrietMmusi MaimaneBonginkosi MadikizelaJoe McGluwaStevens Mokgalapa
Chairperson of Federal Council: James Selfe (incumbent)
Deputy Chairperson of Federal Council: John Steenhuisen, and Thomas Walters
Chairperson of the Federal Legal Commission: Hendrik Schmidt (incumbent)
Chairperson of the Federal Finance Committee: Dion George (incumbent), and Alf Lees.
Voting closes at 9:00am.
– By Christelle du Toit
