The DA has hailed the next cohort of MPs as the most diverse group of all political parties in terms of race, gender, skills and qualifications.
This comes as the party on Monday paraded at least 11 of its newly nominated candidates for parliament and provincial legislatures, which include an economist armed with a PhD, a medical doctor, a communications executive and a leader from its student wing, Daso.
DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the party has sought the very best and brightest individuals South Africa has to offer and put them through their paces in an 11-stage selection process to test them on a number of metrics.
“These new candidates are diverse in race, gender and skills, and come from a variety of different backgrounds and professional careers.”
New candidates
Among the incoming DA candidate MPs showcased by the party at Nkululeko House in Bruma, Johannesburg, is Ian Cameron — a well-known criminal justice and community safety activist.
Cameron made headlines in 2022 when he provoked the ire of police minister Bheki Cele after he lost his cool when Cameron confronted him about the SAPS' poor performance in tackling crime in the Cape Flats.
Cameron believes his 15-year crime-fighting career will help him play a more active role in helping tackle crime through parliament.
“I've decided to join the political arena and join the fight against crime. Over the past few years, I have become friends with so many men and women in blue and I can't tell you the sacrifices they make and the keep pushing despite the rotten leadership in SAPS.
“My focus will likely always be the criminal justice system. We have 86 people getting killed per day, but the state only solves 14.5% of murders and that is not enough. It's easy to criticise politics, but those who criticise are usually never available to roll up their sleeves and get in the game.”
Karl le Roux, a 49-year-old medical doctor, researcher and lecturer with a career spanning 22 years, made the cut and believes every South African deserves access to quality health care.
Outsider given an opportunity
He thanked the DA for giving “an outsider” like him, with no political experience, a chance and promises to use his experience in the public health sector to serve.
“We want to help build the new South Africa and we strongly believe that all South Africans and rural South Africans in particular, deserve quality health care. In my medical career, I've seen first-hand the deep dysfunction that the Eastern Cape department of health's lack of planning and capacity really harms the poorest. I hope to now serve in the health sphere, on a policy perspective and decision-making level.”
One of the youngest in the cohort is Mlondi Mdluli, a 25-year-old who the party hailed as “talented”.
Pursuing a doctor of philosophy in economics qualification with the University of Reading in the UK, Mdluli says he believes no other party in the country would welcome his set of experience and expertise.
“In other parties, they elect people based on which faction you are aligned to and your proximity to senior leadership. In the DA the system is fair. I applied, did the tests and interviews and they saw value in my experience and expertise. The DA uses a 'fit for purpose' merit system and that process found that I am hardworking and dedicated.
Mdluli said he was angry at the state of the country, with rising crime and little to no economic growth.
“This country has a lot of potential. Despite a party coming into power 30 years ago, we still have high levels of inequality. I could have easily stayed in corporate, but I want to change all those things and make a difference.”
Giving back
Also ditching the private sector for parliament is Dr Mark Burke, a 34-year-old master of science, master of philosophy and a holder of PhD in econometrics and quantitative economics from Cambridge University.
Burke says he chose to forgo an “eight-figure salary and European comfort” to return to South Africa, to give back and serve the country.
Possibly the youngest in the cohort is Liam Jacobs, the leader of the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation.
Born in 2001, the party believes he will use his huge popularity on Tiktok, where he has amassed 27-million views and, 1.5-million likes, to further grow DA support among young people.
“A few weeks ago, the president stood on a podium like I am doing now and gave us the story of Tintswalo. Today, I want to give the story of Liam, a child from Kimberley who grew up in a community that faced water-shedding, load-shedding, violence and where education was but a dream for its children,” he said.
"I've seen how NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] has robbed the dreams of thousands of young South Africans and I've seen how people place their pockets before their futures. I want to assure every single child that there is a party that cares about you."
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