2015 Democratic Alliance Federal Congress

South African political party conference April 2022 The Democratic Alliance held its 6th Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape from 9 May to 10 May 2015. After incumbent leader Helen Zille announced she would not seek reelection, the Congress became focused on the contest to succeed her.Zille to step down as DA leader. Retrieved on 19 March 2019.South Africa opposition leader Helen Zille steps down. Retrieved on 19 March 2019. Election for Party Leader thumb|250px|right|Helen Zille and James Selfe at the 2010 Federal Congress Helen Zille announced on 12 April 2015 that she would not run for re-election to another term as leader of the party. She said that she would remain as Premier of the Western Cape until her term expires in 2019.Zille to step down as DA leader. Retrieved on 19 March 2019. Many senior Democratic Alliance politicians names were touted as possible successors to Zille, such as Member of Parliament David Maynier, Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane, Federal Chairperson Wilmot James, National Assembly Chief Whip John Steenhuisen, Gauteng Provincial Leader John Moodey, Eastern Cape Provincial leader Athol Trollip, Deputy Federal Chairperson Makashule Gana, Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille and former Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko.DA leader: Yes, no & maybe list. Retrieved on 19 March 2019. When the nominations deadline had passed, four candidates for the leadership had been put forward: Federal Chairperson Wilmot James, Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane and party members Adrian Naidoo and Morgan Oliphant.http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Voting-closed-for-new-DA-leaders-20150510 Voting closed for new DA leaders News24 In the month leading to the vote, the two leading candidates, James and Maimane, traded barbs over issues such party democracy, transparency, and who would be most successful in challenging the ruling African National Congress. The two candidates addressed the provincial party congress in KwaZulu-Natal where James challenged Mamaine to a series of debates.http://www.sabc.co.za/news/f1/da875980484354649f93ff4d1170398b/DA's-Maimane,-James-to-face-off-in-debate--20150505 SABC News - DAs Maimane, James to face off in debate :Tuesday 5 May 2015 Zanele Buthelezi sabc.co.za 20 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062732/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/f1/da875980484354649f93ff4d1170398b/DA%27s-Maimane%2C-James-to-face-off-in-debate--20150505 4 March 2016 dead Continuing his criticism of Maimane's commitment to intra-party democracy and transparency, James released his list of donors in the last week of the campaign and called on his rival to do the same.http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/05c544004833c8a0b8ddff4d1170398b/DAundefinedcandidatesundefinedurgedundefinedtoundefinedbeundefinedfinanciallyundefinedtransparent-20153004 SABC News - DA candidates urged to be financially transparent:Thursday 30 April 2015 Mercedes Besent sabc.co.za 20 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626110550/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/05c544004833c8a0b8ddff4d1170398b/DAundefinedcandidatesundefinedurgedundefinedtoundefinedbeundefinedfinanciallyundefinedtransparent-20153004 26 June 2015 dead On May 10, following a vote by party delegates, outgoing leader Helen Zille declared Mamaine as the duly elected leader of the Democratic Alliance. 93% of delegates voted in the leadership race.http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Maimane-elected-new-DA-leader-20150510 Maimane elected new DA leader News24 2015-05-20 2018-09-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202214/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Maimane-elected-new-DA-leader-20150510 dead According to his campaign, Maimane won with 90% of the vote.http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/maimane-won-by-90-1.1856397#.VV0YLPlViko 'Maimane won by 90%' Independent Newspapers Online Independent Online He was the first black South African to lead the party, as he resigned in October 2019.http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/11e637004854c3d78ef9bfe1ccb64421/Iundefinedwon%E2%80%99tundefinedbeundefinedanyone%E2%80%99sundefinedpuppet:undefinedMaimane-20151105 SABC News - I won't be anyone's puppet: Maimane:Monday 11 May 2015 Busi Chimombe sabc.co.za 20 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133318/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/11e637004854c3d78ef9bfe1ccb64421/Iundefinedwon%E2%80%99tundefinedbeundefinedanyone%E2%80%99sundefinedpuppet%3AundefinedMaimane-20151105 26 June 2015 dead Other Internal Party Elections Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Athol Trollip was elected as Federal Chairperson after he defeated Makashule Gana and Masizole Mnqasela. James Selfe was re-elected unopposed as Chairperson of the Federal Council. Alf Lees defeated Dirk Stubbe and Andricus Van der Westhuizen in the election to become Federal Finance Chairperson. Thomas Walters defeated Anthony Benadie and Adrian Naidoo and was subsequently elected Deputy Chairperson of the Federal Council. Ivan Meyer, Refiloe Nt'sekhe and Désirée van der Walt were elected as first, second, and third Deputy Federal Chairpersons respectively.http://citizen.co.za/379617/maimane-is-the-new-leader-of-the-democratic-alliance/ Maimane is the new leader of the Democratic Alliance Citizen Reporter and ANA The Citizen 2015-05-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20150512054101/http://citizen.co.za/379617/maimane-is-the-new-leader-of-the-democratic-alliance/ 2015-05-12 dead References Category:Politics of South Africa Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) Category:Federal Congresses of the Democratic Alliance Category:2015 conferences Category:2010s political conferences Democratic Alliance Federal Congress Democratic Alliance Federal Congress