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John Steenhuisen was given the mandate to lead the Democratic Alliance (DA), but doubts remain about the party’s leadership and its future.
Acting DA Leader John Steenhuisen addresses party delegates on November 1, 2020 on the second day of the DA virtual federal congress. Image: @ Our_DA / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – It’s going to be an interesting and potentially difficult year for the nation’s official opposition, with local government elections looming and a new leader in command.
John Steenhuisen was given the mandate to lead the Democratic Alliance (DA), but doubts remain about the party’s leadership and its future.
Steenhuisen is faced with a tricky balancing act: taking the party into elections later this year and trying to rebuild a party and convince South Africans that the DA remains a viable home and alternative to the ANC.
Steenhuisen beat former DA youth leader Mbali Ntuli and received a whopping 80% of the vote at the DA’s elective virtual conference in October, a first for the country. This after initial plans for the leadership contest to take place in April were delayed by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
ALSO READ: John Steenhuisen elected new DA leader
It has been another painful year for the prosecutor.
The party tried to rebuild itself following the departure of several high-profile figures in 2019, including former leader Mmusi Maimane, former CEO Paul Boughey and former Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, but 2020 had more of the same in store.
Several regional leaders, as well as former Gauteng leader John Moodey, withdrew, and Moodey made serious accusations about the treatment of black leaders in the party.
“But when there comes a point where you know that those who have captured the game are in charge. In fact, if you look at it, in recent months in the Western Cape, no less than five black mayors have been replaced by white mayors from the district attorney to govern. And there are other people who also left the party with those principles. “
The district attorney has refuted his claims, accusing him of abandoning ship before being convicted of a felony.
Meanwhile, internal battles continued to rage on social media platforms, including revelations that Steenhuisen forced MP Phumzile van Damme to take a year off.
There was little good news at the polls, as the district attorney retained and won fewer seats in the elections.
LOOK: Steenhuisen: I have never closed the dissident voices in the Prosecutor’s Office
Meanwhile, race remained a thorny issue despite a political conference that attempted to clarify the district attorney’s position on the matter.
The party received criticism that its new voice when it comes to farm killings and the Brackenfell High School saga of racism is nothing more than an attempt to emulate right-wing Freedom Front Plus.
Claims, which the former leader and now president of the federal council Helen Zille has dismissed.
“They are being murdered at a rate well above their number in terms of the general population and it is an outrage that we want to increase internationally. Without food, this country will perish and without farmers, there will be no food. “
Zille herself remains a lightning rod figure; Often described as divisive and managing that perception along with the district attorney’s focus on race and healing past gaps are just a few of the main tasks Steenhuisen has to solve.
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