The Democratic Alliance has officially opened nominations for its next leadership contest, setting the stage for a pivotal internal election ahead of its 2026 Federal Congress.
Nominations opened on Friday morning and will close on 23 March, the party confirmed.
Delegates will elect a new federal leader, federal chairperson and three deputy federal chairpersons during the congress, scheduled to take place on 11 and 12 April in Gauteng.
The incoming federal leader will replace John Steenhuisen, who withdrew from the race earlier this month, creating a vacancy at the top of the party’s leadership structure.
On Thursday, current federal chairperson Helen Zille announced that she would step down in April to focus on her campaign to become mayor of Johannesburg.
In a statement, the party said all nominations will undergo vetting by its Federal Compliance Department, working alongside the presiding officers of the Federal Congress and Federal Council elections.
Candidates will also be required to adhere to the DA’s Standards of Conduct for Internal Elections. While campaigning is expected to be competitive, the party stressed that it must remain respectful and aligned with the interests of both the organisation and its supporters.
The contest is expected to shape the party’s direction as it prepares for upcoming political battles at both provincial and national level where, as always in politics, the real campaigning often starts long before the posters go up.