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Flags of the Democratic Alliance are seen at the party’s Eastern Cape Elective Congress on 27 February 2026.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says its leadership race signals the party’s renewal.
It says it is expecting to usher in a new generation of leadership at its federal congress, which will start at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, this Saturday.
It also says it expects more than 2,000 delegates to attend its two-day elective conference, where new leaders will be chosen ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The congress comes as the DA seeks to redefine its role in the government of national unity. The party joined the national government following the 2024 general elections.
👀 Who’s in the race for leadership? DA members from across SA have put themselves forward and delegates from every province will vote for the next DA leaders.
📅 Results will be revealed this Sunday, 12 April 2026.
This #DAcongress2026 is about getting South Africa working. 💙 pic.twitter.com/d0BzjTpcTu
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) April 10, 2026
DA MP Mark Burke says, “By the end of this weekend, the DA would have elected new leadership; notably, both the chairperson of the federal council and the federal leader are not running again, which opens the space for new leaders and perhaps even a new generation of leaders to come through. Likewise, the congress, with more than 2,200 delegates, will now be deciding on the policies the DA should focus on. And that has been put through a process to come to this congress, and now it will be put through a vote.”
DA ready to host landmark Federal Congress – Dr Mark Burke shares more:
