Claims by outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen that the party has built a pipeline of black leadership are set to be tested at its federal congress, where delegates are expected to elect new leadership.
Speaking on the sidelines of the congress in Johannesburg, Steenhuisen defended the DA’s record on diversity while pushing back against criticism of its leadership composition.
“The burden of diversity seems to only fall on the DA. Nobody asks the EFF why there are no white or Indian people in their leadership. No one asks the ANC… no one asks the Freedom Front why they only have white leaders,” he said.
Steenhuisen said the party had invested in developing black leaders through its internal structures, arguing that the results would become visible in the outcomes of the congress.
“The reality is that the DA has invested a lot in growing talented young black leaders… and I think that we’re going to be reaping our first harvest in this congress of that determined effort,” he said.
He cited several candidates contesting leadership positions as products of that process, saying they had “come up through the ranks of the DA” and had been given opportunities to lead at different levels of the organisation.
Steenhuisen maintained that the party’s current leadership was already more representative than that of its political rivals, describing its top structures as “much more diverse than any top six of any other party in the country”.
Federal chairperson hopeful Solly Msimanga, speaking separately, said the outcome would reflect decisions taken by a broad delegate base rather than a predetermined leadership outcome.
“You have almost 2 400 delegates that are here… it’s a mixture of race… from both urban and rural South Africa. These are people that are going to then decide who they vote for,” he said.
Msimanga rejected claims that black leaders struggle to rise within the party’s top structures, pointing to previous leadership outcomes and current candidates.
“Mmusi Maimane was a black leader. He didn’t struggle to ascend. He was voted in by a majority of congress,” he said.
He added that candidates should be judged on their ideas rather than identity.
“I’m not contesting on the basis of race… don’t vote for me because of my skin colour,” he said.
The contest comes as the DA seeks to broaden its support base while consolidating its role in national government, placing renewed focus on how its leadership reflects its electoral positioning.
Msimanga said the party’s internal processes, including open contestation and delegate voting, would determine outcomes rather than demographic considerations.
“One of the things that the DA prides itself in is the ability to allow candidates to sell themselves… and then have people decide who they want to vote for,” he said.
The outcome of the leadership elections is expected to indicate whether the party’s internal processes translate into broader representation at the highest level, following years of emphasis on developing younger leaders within its ranks.
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- Outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen claims the party has developed a strong pipeline of black leadership.
- This claim will be scrutinized at the party's upcoming federal congress.
- Delegates at the congress are expected to elect new DA leadership.
- The leadership election is seen as a critical test of the party’s commitment to transformation.
- Full details of the story are available in the Sunday World e-edition.
