Nominations Officially Open for DA Leadership
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa officially commenced the nomination period for its federal leadership positions on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 07:00 AM. This marks the beginning of a crucial internal electoral process leading up to the party's Federal Congress, set to take place on April 11 and 12, 2026, in Gauteng. The nomination window will remain open until March 23, 2026, at 11:59 AM.
The upcoming congress will see the election of several key federal leadership roles, including a new Federal Leader, Federal Chairperson, three Deputy Federal Chairpersons, a Finance Chairperson, and a Chairperson and three Deputy Chairpersons of the Federal Council.
Key Leaders Step Down, New Candidates Emerge
The leadership race comes as incumbent Federal Leader John Steenhuisen announced on February 4, 2026, that he would not be seeking re-election for another term. Similarly, Helen Zille, the current Chairperson of the Federal Council, has also confirmed she will not run again, stating her intention to focus on her campaign to become the mayor of Johannesburg.
The first prominent candidate to declare for the position of Federal Leader is Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. He officially announced his candidacy on February 27, 2026, and is widely considered a strong contender. Hill-Lewis expressed his commitment to building a stronger DA to contribute to a stronger South Africa.
Contested Positions and Nomination Process
Beyond the Federal Leader, other significant positions are also being contested. For the role of Federal Chairperson, Solly Msimanga, the DA's Gauteng Provincial Leader, and Ashor Sarupen, the Deputy Minister of Finance, have both put their names forward.
The nomination process requires each candidate to have both a nominator and a seconder. All submitted nominations will undergo a thorough vetting process by the DA's Federal Compliance Department, in consultation with the presiding officers of the Federal Congress and Federal Council elections. Candidates are expected to adhere to the party's 'Standards of Conduct for Internal Elections', which emphasize that while campaigning can be robust, it must always serve the best interests of the party and its supporters.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Municipal Elections
The new federal leadership elected at this congress will be tasked with steering the Democratic Alliance into the crucial 2026 South African municipal elections. The DA currently holds a significant position in South African politics as the second-largest political party and is a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa's 10-party coalition government, formed after the 2024 general elections.
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