New DA leaders aim to appeal to rural communities, youth

The Democratic Alliance’s Helen Zille has welcomed the young leaders elected at the party’s congress in Johannesburg this weekend, ahead of this year's municipal election.

Geordin Hill-Lewis, 39, takes over from John Steenhuisen as the Federal Leader. He will stay on as Cape Town Mayor.

Solly Msimanga, the party’s Gauteng leader, was elected Federal Chairperson with deputies. Ashor Sarupen takes Zille's old job of Chairperson of the Federal Council and also has deputies, while Dr Mark Burke was named Chairperson of Federal Finance.

Speaking to 702’s Clement Manyathela, Zille said she was thrilled with the results.

"These are young people who've literally grown up in the DA... they have literally decades of experience behind them, and I couldn't be more delighted. You know there's no better legacy to leave than competent, capable, wonderful, young people taking over the baton and running with it."

There were some concerns about the lack of gender diversity in the top structure, where the only woman, Siviwe Gwarube, was elected as Deputy Federal Chairperson: 1st Deputy.

"In the DA, you've got to run, and you've got to compete, and you've got to persuade the delegates. Now, it's very important that Siviwe is there. And obviously, we would've liked a few more women, but it's up to the delegates. We don't manipulate delegates. Every delegate gets a free choice. And we emphasise and re-emphasise that there's no provincial mandate. There's no organisational instruction. You vote as a free individual. That is our value system. And so, I was the only woman for many, many years. And I have also been the only woman who's been the leader of the DA. It happens like that... It's all about individual choice."

Zille is confident that the DA's values will ensure it gets more than the 22% of voter support it currently has.

"Our most important factor is that we govern well. And if you sit without water and without electricity and without all the basics, you actually begin to understand that it's important to have a competent government. And that you also know that there is a difference between who is in government and the services you get and the life you live. And that there is a very real connection between the way you vote and the way you live. And that is a very important realisation in any democracy when people make that link."

Will Zille be tempted to interfere?

"I'm no longer on the FedEx; I'm no longer on the Federal Council, I won't be in any decision-making structure, so by definition I can't interfere in decisions because I'm not there. To basically have an influence on decisions, you have to be at the table, and now I have no position to be at the table, and I'm quite happy with that.

“The DA has given me a job to try and win Johannesburg. I will put every single ounce of my effort into trying to achieve that because we have to rescue Joburg.

Joburg is in a bad way...

"These young people are brilliant; they've worked their way up. They've contested for positions many times, and they've been successful. We have seen the consequence of their work. We trust them, and that is why we vote them in."

Will Msimanga be given space?

"The DA uses congresses as a reset, and in this instance, we are the generation that is coming in now with the full understanding that the party needs to break through that ceiling from being the second biggest party to being the biggest party in South Africa, which will mean that we're building on the foundation that has been laid by giants," said newly elected Federal Chairperson Solly Msimanga.

Msimanga said they are going to train leaders in the communities that they want to reach.

"These are people who are going to be at the forefront of championing the issues that people in communities care about. We don't want a situation where people are saying, 'We're only seeing you because it's election time'. We want leaders who are there on an ongoing, independent basis, driving the issues of service delivery and community building."

He said at the congress this past weekend, they decided there will be a team working with traditional leaders and traditional houses. "Which is something that has never been concretised before."

Msimanga said the other way the party plans to grow is by appealing to young voters who appear to be uninterested in politics.

“If you were to look at the IEC's analysis in terms of the voter pattern amongst the young generation or younger people, this is something that we want to really break that glass ceiling and capture the minds and the hearts of these younger people. So that's what we are going to be doing and going forward with the team that's just been elected.”

To listen to Zille and Msimanga on 702, use the audio player below: