2019 Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairpersonship election

The 2019 Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairpersonship election was held on 20 October 2019 to elect the new Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA), after incumbent James Selfe had announced his retirement in June 2019.[2]

2019 Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairpersonship election
20 October 2019[1]
 
Candidate Helen Zille Athol Trollip
Popular vote Elected Not elected
 
Candidate Mike Waters Thomas Walters
Popular vote Not elected Not elected
Chairperson before election

James Selfe

 Elected Chairperson

Helen Zille

Press conference announcing Helen Zille as the new Federal Council Chairperson

The members of the party's Federal Council elected the new chairperson.[3] Helen Zille was elected to the position.[4]

Background

In June 2019, James Selfe announced his retirement from the post of Chairperson of the Federal Council of the DA. He served in the post for almost two decades under the leadership of Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane. The leadership position is similar to that of the role of Secretary-General of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).[5][6][7]

In recent months, the DA had been plagued by infighting and disorder. The party unsuccessfully tried to grow its vote share in the May 2019 national elections, only to be met with its first electoral decline in its history. This consequently caused leadership uncertainty within the party.[8][9]

Candidates

The candidate nomination process closed on 4 October 2019 at around 17:00. Four candidates declared their intention to contest the election and were as follow:

Results

On 20 October 2019, DA Spokesperson Solly Malatsi tweeted that Helen Zille had been elected to the post. The party soon confirmed her election.[13]

References
  1. Davis, Gaye (8 October 2019). "No dirty campaigning, DA federal council chair candidates warned". EWN. Cape Town. Retrieved 9 October 2019. Van der Walt said that the voters roll contained the names of around 150 or so delegates who would be voting on 20 October.
  2. Van der Walt, Desiree (4 October 2019). "DA Federal Council Chairperson nominations closed". The Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  3. Sicetsha, Andile (18 October 2019). "DA Federal Council meeting: A preview of this weekend's political showdown". The South African. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  4. "Helen Zille elected DA Federal chairperson". eNCA. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  5. Dlamini, Penwell (9 June 2019). "DA federal executive chair James Selfe to step down". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  6. "James Selfe to step down as DA FedEx chair after 19 years at the helm". IOL. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  7. Dlulane, Bonga (9 June 2019). "James Selfe to step down as DA federal executive chair in". EWN. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  8. Merten, Marianne (15 May 2019). "DA infighting: Maimane contradicts party chair's comments on limp election performance". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  9. "DA is 'leaderless': IRR". eNCA. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  10. Chabalala, Jeanette (5 October 2019). "Here's what the four DA candidates vying for James Selfe's position have to offer". News24. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  11. Deklerk, Aphiwe (4 October 2019). "DA man who took Maimane to task wants top party post". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  12. Kiewit, Lester (4 October 2019). "Zille announces intention to lead DA's federal council". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  13. Tandwa, Lizeka; Madia, Tshidi (20 October 2019). "BREAKING Helen Zille wins DA federal council chair vote". News24. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
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