By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Mduduzi Ndzingi.
Almost 1000 Democratic Alliance (DA) delegates from across the province gathered in the City of Ekurhuleni to shape the future of the DA in Gauteng.
Gauteng is the battleground, with several parties hoping to bring the African National Congress under 50%.
The governing party is currently holding onto power through a 50.19% win at the 2019 national polls.
DA MP, Werner Horn says the party hopes for a leader that will salvage the DA’s chances of winning over Gauteng voters next year.
“In next year’s election, Gauteng is going to be a key battle-ground province,” he notes.
The incumbent provincial chairperson, Fred Nel is fighting to retain the position against Katlego Mathebe.
For the position of deputy provincial chairperson, the list includes Lungile Penyane who was also contesting for several positions at the national congress in April.
Other candidates are Moleko Arthur, Mthumunye Glen, Radebe Richard, and Ryder Dennis Richard.
DA leader, John Steenhuisen addressed the opening of the Gauteng DA’s elective conference on Saturday, and ahead of a key gathering of opposition parties next week, centred around his strategy to strengthen his party’s hand in next year’s election.
Steenhuisen is joined in opening the congress by Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, and Federal Chairperson, Ivan Meyer.
He has left the door open for parties that have been unwilling so far to sign up for his Moonshot pack, saying “our hands are open and generous.”
“We can use the best chance South Africa’s had in over 30 years to strike bravely forth in a new direction,” he said.
“Don’t waste this opportunity though pettiness, through silliness, through irrelevant arguments…we don’t have the luxury of time,” Steenhuisen added.
Earlier, the DA’s Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille addressed the same gathering, saying the DA was closer than ever to surpassing the 50% threshold in Gauteng, which is seen as a key battleground in the election.
In spite of the DA only managing to get a 27% share of the votes in 2019, she believes it’s now set to get over 50% next year.
“There’s an English idiom that says we are in spitting distance, which means if you are standing behind someone and you spit, not far, just a little bit, you will hit them. And that is how close we are, to becoming the biggest party in Gauteng”.
Steenhuisen said more parties would soon be announced as part of the Moonshot Pact, and interim, he bemoaned the state of service delivery in Gauteng in particular.
“Roads now explode in the middle of Johannesburg. Potholes the size of craters claim lives every day,” he said.
DA Gauteng incumbent leader, Solly Msimanga is fighting to keep his position against Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Khume Ramulifho at the elective conference, taking place at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of DA.