Democratic Alliance Prepares For Federal Congress

The Democratic Alliance, which is South Africa's official opposition and second-largest party in parliament, will hold its Federal Congress 2023 over the weekend to make key policy resolutions and elect senior party executives.

• Incumbent DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen and former Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse will face off in a leadership contest. Local press reports suggest that Steenhuisen is seen as the frontrunner due to support from party establishment.
• Steenhuisen won DA leadership at the 2018 Federal Congress, taking over from Mmusi Maimane. His rival Phalatse is promising to revert to Maimane's vision, reaching out to voters in primary black townships and villages.
• Steenhuisen's activity as the leader of the Opposition arguably gives him an advantage over Phalatse, who was unseated as Johannesburg Mayor earlier this year after clashing with party leadership over the composition of her municipal coalition.
• The refreshed executive line-up will lead the Democratic Alliance into the 2024 elections, in which the party will be up against the ruling African National Congress, which has dominated South African politics in the post-apartheid era.
• Voting for party executives will open on Sunday morning and the results will be announced later that day.