By Levy Masiteng
The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday named candidates for its top leadership ahead of its elective Federal Congress in April, with Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and senior party member Sibusiso Dyonase contesting the post of federal leader.
John Steenhuisen announced in February that he would not seek re-election as leader, while Helen Zille is also stepping down as chair of the DA’s Federal Council, but is the party’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate.
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In its official announcement, the DA said nominations for leadership candidates opened on February 27 and closed on Monday, after which nominees were vetted by the party’s federal compliance structures.
For federal leader, the candidates are Dyonase and Hill-Lewis. For federal chairperson, the contest is between Ivan Meyer and former Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga.
Seven candidates are contesting the three deputy federal chairperson positions: Cilliers Brink, Belinda Echeozonjoku, Siviwe Gwarube, Solly Malatsi, Anroux Marais, Nomafrench Mbombo and Nicholas Nyati.
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The DA also announced candidates for key positions in its Federal Council, the party’s highest decision-making body between federal congresses. Werner Horn, Neo Mokoena and Ashor Sarupen are standing for chairperson of the Federal Council, while Mark Burke, Erik Marais and Fanyana Nkosi are contesting the chair of the Federal Finance Committee.
Candidates for the three deputy chairperson positions in the Federal Council are Deonay Balie, Sibusiso Dyonase, Annelie Lotriet, Innocent James Mabaso, Ricardo Mackenzie, John Popifa Makoela, Nomafrench Mbombo, Lungile Phenyane, Carl Pophaim, Segope Gabriel Sathekge, Sello Seitlholo, JP Smith and Thomas Walters.