Reluctant Steenhuisen urged to challenge Selfe in DA polls

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen is being lobbied to challenge the chairman of the party's federal council, James Selfe, when the DA elects new leaders in six weeks.

Steenhuisen told the Sunday Times he would not take on Selfe, who has held the post for 15 years, but lobbyists said they would push his name to force Selfe to withdraw from the race.

Selfe said this week that he was available to serve another term. "I want to be part of the team that takes the party to the 2019 elections," he said.

Party leader Mmusi Maimane is expected to be re-elected unopposed.

Selfe has come under criticism for his iron-fisted approach to running the DA and those lobbying to replace him have argued for change in the top echelons of the party.

Steenhuisen told the Sunday Times: "I won't stand [against James Selfe], that's just how it is, I have given that undertaking. I certainly wouldn't challenge James Selfe unless something seismic happened that really affected the party."

Steenhuisen said Selfe had done well in his post and it was up to him to decide when to leave. "I think there is some renewal that's required in the party. I have some concerns around some of the approaches of the party in the course of the last little while, particularly as it pertains to the operations of the DA. The operation of the federal head office staff, I have particular views on that."

On Wednesday, nominations open for the party's top six positions; they close a week later. The congress sits for two days, on April 7 and 8.

Some DA insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Steenhuisen was being pushed to stand against Selfe regardless of his stance on it.

"They want to force Selfe to stand down, the same way they did with Helen Zille," said a DA leader who supports Selfe.

Another DA insider said Steenhuisen was being prepared to take over from Selfe and rumours about his interest in the post had started during the party's previous elective conference, held in the Eastern Cape.

Selfe said he did not pay attention to other people's campaigns to replace him but that he did not expect Maimane to be challenged.

Maimane has confirmed that he will seek re-election as party leader for a second term. He was elected at the 2015 federal congress.

Selfe's position is not the only one that may be contested. Federal chairman Athol Trollip may also face a stiff challenge.

DA insiders said Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schafer had been asked to run against Trollip and was considering it. Schafer said she had yet to make a decision.

The DA's spokeswoman on science and technology, who is also chairwoman of the party in the Free State, Annelie Lotriet, is also said to be considering challenging Trollip. The DA insider said it would not be a problem for Lotriet to be part of the national leadership as there was no real chance of the DA winning the Free State in 2019.

Lotriet was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

Trollip is accused by his detractors of being absent from his DA role because he is managing the Nelson Mandela Bay metro coalition as mayor.

Trollip confirmed he would stand for re-election and rejected claims he was distracted. "Mmusi Maimane is the leader of the DA in parliament and he is the leader of the party, no problem. I have been doing it for the last three years. I think I have done a great job and I will continue doing it," said Trollip.

DA leaders are looking to this congress to officially launch their campaign for the 2019 general elections.