The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s interim provincial leader, Tertuis Simmers, has been elected as the party’s Western Cape leader at its elective congress in Cape Town.
He was challenged by former provincial leader, Bonginkosi Madikizela. Over a thousand delegates gathered at Century City in Cape Town for the congress.
The party earlier said the outcome of its Western Cape Congress would be of critical significance ahead of next year’s general elections.
‘Short and medium focus’
Simmers says he hopes to help raise the party’s voter support to about 60% in the upcoming election next year. Simmers says the party’s fortunes have been declining since 2019.
He beat former leader Bonginkosi Madikizela receiving 64% of the vote.
‘That first benchmark for us will be registration weekend next weekend. We’ve been working hard for 18 months registering, that will be the first threshold to pass. Secondly to get those who have registered to go and vote in next year’s election and part of that is focusing on our young people, our youth and those who are disillusioned to vote for DA even though they are DA-inclined. That will be for me the short and medium focus on.”
New devolution
Speaking at the DA Western Cape elective congress, DA leader, John Steenhuisen has committed to the people of Western Cape to introduce a new devolution act to transfer the control of policing, trains and electricity to the Western Cape once they win the national election next year.
“I came here today, to make a commitment to the people of the Western Cape. If you help the DA win not only provincially but also nationally next year, our very first order of business will be the following; on day one of a new national government, the DA will introduce a new devolution act that will immediately transfer control of the policing, trains and electricity to the Western Cape. To the residents of the Western Cape, I say to you now the future is in your hands.”
