Power shake-up on the cards as DA holds day 1 of elective conference

11 April 2026, 17:54

WATCH | Minister Leon Schreiber speaks to Koena Mashale on the sidelines of the DA federal congress, highlighting strides made by the Home Affairs department and sharing views on the alleged coronation of the Igbo King at kuGompo.

11 April 2026, 16:13

WATCH | Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the DA, Mike Moriarty sits down with Business Day’s Hajra Omarjee, reflecting on how the party recouped votes lost to ActionSA, and stressing the importance of electing good leadership across all party hierarchies.

11 April 2026, 14:06

WATCH | Helen Zille says the DA leader who will be elected at the party’s Congress has the best chance of being SA’s president in 2029.

11 April 2026, 13:17

WATCH | Candidate for DA federal Council chair Werner Horn says he wants the party’s provincial structures to have more of a say in decision making

WATCH | Solly Msimanga talks on his confidence to getting the position his been gunning for since last year

WATCH | Business Day’s Hajra Omarjee caught up with outgoing DA Leader John Steenhuisen.

11 April 2026, 13:12

IN PICS | DA 2026 Federal Congress day 1

11 April 2026, 12:55

Arena Holdings photographers Masi Losi, Refilwe Kholomonyane and Veli Nhlapho capture the first day of the DA 2026 Federal Congress taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

The congress marks a pivotal moment for the opposition party as it prepares to reset its leadership and strategic direction before the upcoming local government elections.

[ IN PICS | DA 2026 Federal Congress day 1Opens in new window ]

Zille says viral pothole swim was unplanned

11 April 2026, 11:46

DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille says the viral video of her swimming in a pothole was an opportunity to show citizens that the party can fix Johannesburg.

In March, Zille, dressed in a wetsuit, mask, and snorkel, swam in the murky water-filled pothole in Douglasdale to highlight the city’s deteriorating infrastructure.

She had jokingly called it a “free Saturday afternoon swim” and attempted a backstroke while noting that the “pothole dam” was caused by a burst pipe that had been neglected for three years.

[ Zille says viral pothole swim was unplannedOpens in new window ]

Steenhuisen’s emotional swan song closes chapter on leadership with ‘pride and confidence’

11 April 2026, 11:29

With tears welling up in his eyes, DA leader John Steenhuisen delivered his final address at the party’s Federal Congress on Saturday, closing his tenure at the helm of the party after confirming earlier this year that he would not seek re-election.

Steenhuisen reflected on the state of the DA when he assumed leadership in 2019, stating that it was “on its knees”, polling at 16% and facing internal division.

He said the party had since stabilised, rebuilt its structures and returned to electoral growth, with support now approaching 30%. He added that members had “refused to accept decline as our destiny” and instead rebuilt the party into a competitive national force.

[ Steenhuisen’s emotional swan song closes chapter on leadership with ‘pride and confidence’Opens in new window ]

Solly Msimanga wants to rebuild rural, party structures if elected DA federal chairperson

11 April 2026, 11:13

Solly Msimanga, Gauteng DA leader and MPL, says if he is elected as the party’s federal council chair, he will prioritise rebuilding grassroots structures that collapsed during the mass exodus of black leaders from the party, particularly in Gauteng, South Africa’s economic and financial hub.

“Our structures collapsed in Gauteng in 2019. Remember, Mmusi Maimane came from Gauteng, Herman Mashaba came from Gauteng, and John Moodey came from Gauteng,” Msimanga told Business Day.

[ Solly Msimanga wants to rebuild rural, party structures if elected DA federal chairpersonOpens in new window ]

Zille says SA is on different path because of DA

11 April 2026, 11:08

Outgoing DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille says South African is on a different political trajectory because of the blue party.

Zille was delivering her last official address as chair at the party’s Federal Congress at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Saturday.

[ Zille says SA is on different path because of DAOpens in new window ]

DA Federal Council chair candidate Horn wants provincial structures to have bigger say in decision making

11 April 2026, 10:10

Werner Horn, a candidate for the DA’s Federal Council chair, has called for the broader participation of provincial structures when discussing the face of the party’s local and provincial elections.

“That is the big change I would bring if elected,” Horn said.

Either Horn or Ashor Sarupen, who is the deputy finance minister, is expected to take over from Helen Zille as DA Federal Council chair.

[ DA Federal Council chair candidate Horn wants provincial structures to have bigger say in decision makingOpens in new window ]

WATCH | Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen speaks about the agriculture sector

11 April 2026, 09:53

Hormuz re-opening will ease pressure on SA agriculture: Steenhuisen

09:26

With farmers feeling the pinch of rising fuel costs and fertiliser shortages, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen said the recent opening of the Strait of Hormuz should help ease that expected pressure.

This comes as Iran granted South African vessels safe passage through the strait, which comes amid a fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which was agreed upon on Wednesday.

Speaking to Sowetan at the DA federal congress in Midrand, Steenhuisen said the government has already implemented measures to help with the subsidising of the levy but added the ceasefire would be an extra push.

[ Hormuz re-opening will ease pressure on SA agriculture: SteenhuisenOpens in new window ]

DA power shake-up on the table as leadership race heats up

11 April 2026, 09:02

The DA is heading into a high-stakes elective congress this weekend with sweeping constitutional changes — and a looming leadership transition — set to test the party’s direction.

Delegates will vote on 58 amendments that could significantly reshape how the DA is run, including proposals that would tighten accountability and redistribute power at the top.

At the centre of the race, Geordin Hill-Lewis has emerged as the frontrunner to replace John Steenhuisen, who made a surprise exit earlier this year.

[ DA power shake-up on the table as leadership race heats upOpens in new window ]

Outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen says he is leaving the DA intact

11 April 2026, 08:31

John Steenhuisen says it is a bittersweet moment as he hands over the reins of the DA.

“This is the first time I am not on the ballot, but at least I am leaving an intact organisation.”

He added that the DA federal congress this weekend would usher in a generational change of leadership.

[ Outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen says he is leaving the DA intactOpens in new window ]