Steenhuisen appoints Michalakis as DA's chief whip in Parliament

CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has appointed George Michalakis as the party’s new chief whip in Parliament. 

He replaces Siviwe Gwarube, appointed in 2022, as she's to be sworn in as basic education minister on Wednesday. 

Michalakis is new to the National Assembly but has served the DA in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) since 2014.

"He has a passion for Parliament and parliamentary procedures. He’s been a student of it for a long time. He has a legal qualification. I saw in him the huge passion for Parliament that is required to fulfill that job - you've really got to love Parliament, it can be a frustrating place at times, and you really have to have a passion for it."

Steenhuisen will be leaning heavily on his new chief whip, as he'll be sworn-in as agriculture minister on Wednesday.

"Obviously, you want to bring in younger cohorts of leaders to give them an opportunity to lead from the front. The DA doesn’t just talk about empowering young people, we do it in leadership positions. So, I think he’s going to do an excellent job as chief whip."