By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP, Andrew Whitfield, elected as Eastern Cape provincial leader after beating Chantel King at the party’s elective conference in Graaff Reinet on Saturday
He takes over the leadership role from Nqaba Bhanga.
Yusuf Cassim was elected the DA’s Eastern Cape chairperson and will be supported by Vicky Knoetze and Mlindi Nhanha.
“The election results were compliant with all DA election requirements and rules and the vote count proceeded without any queries or objections,” according to the presiding officers, MPs Werner Horn and Bridget Masango.
“The DA also thanks the outgoing leadership for their sterling work and dedication to the party and extend our congratulations to all duly elected candidates,” they said.
The DA’s Eastern Cape elective conference was also attended by national leader, John Steenhuisen, Federal Chairperson, Dr Ivan Meyer, Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, and Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube.
Whitfield said that he was “incredibly proud” to have been elected as the DA’s leader in the Eastern Cape.
“I feel like it’s a culmination of 15 years of hard work as a member of the DA, having worked in different parts of the party and different spheres of government over my career in politics,” he said.
Whitfield said that he thinks it’s testimony to the DA that the delegates at the elective conference “put their votes behind someone who works hard and has a record of delivering results.”
“That gives me tremendous confidence going into this term of office for the next three years as the provincial leader of our party. I’m really proud to lead this team,” he said.
The start of the conference on Saturday morning was delayed as a faulty generator and load shedding tripped up the process of registering voting delegates.
At the event, 329 registered delegates were invited, and of that, 297 were present. Of the 297 delegates, 293 cast their votes.