By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@DA.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson, Helen Zille confirmed that Gwen Ngwenya will leave the party after she had accepted an “excellent position” in the private sector.
This is not the first time Ngwenya leaves the DA.
Ngwenya stepped down as DA policy head in January 2019, citing in her resignation letter a lack of budget, a lack of support from DA leadership and having to work with inexperienced staff.
Zille said that DA MP Mat Cuthbert would temporarily replace Ngwenya, with the party expected to have policy discussions at its federal congress.
“The majority of the work for the congress has been done and everything went smoothly. The handover was done with sufficient time and everything is under control. We will fill the position after the congress,” she said.
According to Cuthbert, the DA will only expand “issues such as the independence of the SA Reserve Bank, a load shedding-free South Africa modelled on our arrangement in Cape Town and the stabilisation of the economy” since there were no additions to the party’s current policies.
“With the election of John Steenhuisen as DA leader, we had already started to hone the party’s policy in such a way that if we were to enter the Union Buildings next year, we could implement it immediately to continue service delivery. There has been a lot of progress in that area, mostly thanks to Gwen.
“An example of this is our economic policy, which we will release closer to the election campaign. Wide consultation was done to present a complete document,” he said.
Thank you @Our_DA for the opportunity to shape the policy agenda at such an integral time in South Africa, to those leading governments who trusted me to provide a steer on issues, and also colleagues across the political aisle with whom I’ve developed lasting relationships. 2/2
— Gwen Ngwenya (@GwenNgwenya) March 26, 2023
The DA will host its biggest yet congress with more than 2 000 delegates expected to attend at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 1 and 2 April.
Incumbent DA leader Steenhuisen and former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse are contesting for the federal leader post, while Zille is expected to secure re-election as federal council chair.