We could be electing the president of the country, says DA as it gears up for congress

This weekend the DA is presiding over a watershed federal congress, as it is most likely going to elect the country's future president, it believes.

The polls so far, according to the party, predict a massive decline in electoral support that will place the ANC well under 40%.

Speaking at a briefing on the party's federal congress state of readiness, presiding officer Greg Krumbock said internal and external polls predict there will only be an 11% difference between the ANC and the DA at the 2024 national elections.

“We believe this congress is very important because the polls constantly reflect the ruling party at under 40% [and indicate] the DA has now ... overtaken the ANC in urban areas,” he said.  

“We could very well be electing the president of the country at this congress this weekend, selecting our presidential candidate, because [the polls suggest] there’s only 11% between ... the ANC [and the DA]. It is now very close and the likelihood of no party getting an outright majority next year is very much on the cards.”

At the congress, the DA’s nearly 2,000 delegates will choose its leader and decide whether to hand incumbent John Steenhuisen a second term or opt for his contender, former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse.

So far all indications are that Steenhuisen is enjoying significant support in the majority of the provinces, with some national leaders endorsing him.

Krumbock said though the DA dipped in the 2019 national election, the party was much more confident this time around. The dip in the party's electoral support at the time was attributed to internal squabbles between the "black caucus" and the "old guard".

The party was also believed to have been unclear on its stance on BEE, which proved a sticking point internally and spilt over into the public domain.

Krumbock, however, believes the DA has come a long way since as Steenhuisen has resolved internal issues.

“You are quite correct that in 2019 the DA polled 20.7%. That was four years ago, a long time, and things have changed a lot in our country. So we do poll the electorate, as does the ANC, as do other non-political parties, and so the numbers coming through indicate that shift in support across the country for all parties,” he said.

“That says to me the 2024 national election is going to be the most open election we’ve had in our history. Our own poll confirms [this 11% difference] and interestingly, an internal poll the ANC did that was leaked shows they were even lower than we thought they were, in the lower 30s.”

“So that’s why I’m saying this congress is important because the leader that is elected is very likely going to be the presidential candidate. And with the ruling party set to plummet by such a large percentage, there’s a lot that can happen.”

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