File: Supporters the Democratic Alliance (DA).
JOHANNESBURG - The leadership race within the Democratic Alliance (DA) is officially open.
Nominations for leadership candidates opened on Friday morning.
The party will hold its 2026 Federal Congress on 11 and 12 April in Gauteng, where members will elect a new federal leader, federal chairperson, and three deputy federal chairpersons. Nominations will close on 23 March.
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The new federal leader will succeed John Steenhuisen, who withdrew from the leadership race earlier this month.
On Thursday, current federal chairperson Helen Zille announced her intention to step down in April to focus on her campaign to become Johannesburg mayor.
In a statement, the party said nominations will be vetted by the DA’s Federal Compliance Department, in consultation with the presiding officers of the Federal Congress and Federal Council elections.
All candidates must adhere to the party’s Standards of Conduct for Internal Elections, which state that while campaigning may be robust, it must remain in the best interests of the party and its supporters.