PHOTOS: EDDIE MTSWENI
By Johnathan Paoli
The Gallagher Convention Centre was awash in blue on Saturday morning as the Democratic Alliance (DA) opened its highly anticipated 2026 Federal Congress, marking a pivotal moment for the party as it gathers for the first time since entering South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
Delegates, party officials and members of the media streamed into the Midrand venue in the early hours, coffee cups in hand, as a carefully choreographed programme got underway.
The atmosphere carried a sense of anticipation as more than 2,000 attendees prepared for a weekend that will shape the party’s leadership and policy direction.
In her opening address, DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille struck a balance between humour and ideological conviction, joking about the tightly run schedule before pivoting to a broader reflection on the party’s mission and history.
“My friends and delegates, my blue family, I wish
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