By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Democratic Alliance (DA) member Lungile Phenyane has withdrawn from contesting the party’s federal leader and federal finance chairperson positions ahead of the DA’s federal congress.
Phenyane was standing for all six of the DA’s national leadership positions.
She said she was stepping away from contesting the positions because she felt that the other candidates standing were “competent” enough to take the party forward.
After due consideration, I’ve evaluated the two positions of federal leader and federal finance chairperson and, for now, I’m withdrawing.
“For the other positions, I’m still standing,” said Phenyane.
Phenyane was expected to compete for the federal leader post with the incumbent DA leader John Steenhuisen and former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse.
For the federal finance chairperson, she was expected to take on the incumbent Dion George, who is currently serving a third term.
With Phenyane having withdrawn from contesting the post, this means George is now the only remaining candidate.
She is still vying for the coveted position of federal council chairperson, where she will go head-to-head with incumbent chair Helen Zille.
Phenyane denied that she was forced to withdraw from contesting the two positions. She said she informed the DA’s federal congress presiding officers of her decision.
“For now in the current status,I think there are other competent candidates who are already nominated,” she said.
Phenyane hails from Tshwane and is a member of the DA Youth and the DA’s Women’s Network. The 36-year-old has never held any leadership position within the DA.
Around 2 000 delegates are expected to gather at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 1 to 2 April for the DA’s federal congress, where the party will elect its federal leader, federal chairperson, and three deputy federal chairpersons.