Nominations for key positions in the Democratic Alliance have opened, with several prominent figures announcing their candidacies for the party's federal congress in April. The current leader, John Steenhuisen, and Federal Council chair, Helen Zille, are not seeking re-election.
One week after the opening of nominations for DA leadership positions, several high-profile ministers and legislators have entered the race. The congress, set for 11 and 12 April 2026, will elect at least three new leaders. Nominations officially opened on 27 February 2026 and will close on 23 March 2026 at 11:59am.
For the federal leader position, only Cape Town mayor and DA Western Cape deputy leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has been nominated so far. He announced his candidacy, stating the leadership race is an “opportunity for our party to renew itself again”. Hill-Lewis has a background in the DA Students Organisation at the University of Cape Town, served as an MP, and became mayor in 2021.
The federal chairperson race features incumbent Dr Ivan Meyer and Solly Msimanga from Gauteng. Meyer, a long-serving Western Cape legislator, officially entered on 5 March. Msimanga announced on 27 February that he aims to replace Meyer to consolidate party support outside the Western Cape.
The three deputy federal chairperson positions see incumbents Solly Malatsi and Anroux Marais seeking re-election, alongside newcomers including Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink, and former Western Cape Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
For Federal Council chairperson, with Zille running for Johannesburg mayor, Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen is the likely successor, alongside Free State MP Werner Horn. The three deputy positions include incumbents Dr Annelie Lotriet and Thomas Walters, plus Mbombo, national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, Deonay Bali, Ricardo Mackenzie, and JP Smith.
Following Dion George’s resignation, MP Erik Marais has been nominated for federal finance chairperson.
DA congress spokesperson Nazley Sharif said: “It is very exciting that positions within the DA leadership are being highly contested. It shows that democracy and internal contestation is healthy in the DA.” Nominations will be vetted by the Federal Compliance Department before publication.
