Picture: for illustration purposes
DA veteran, JP Smith, claimed victory last weekend, securing the position of Chairperson for DA in Cape Town Metro during a one-day regional congress. The victory sees Smith rising above mayoral committee member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, in the race for the chairperson title.
Smith’s new title adds to a remarkable list of achievements within the Democratic Alliance party. Currently, he serves as a Deputy Federal Chairperson nationally, Deputy Leader of the Cape Town caucus, and Western Cape Provincial Deputy Chairperson.
As the contest heated, Smith was widely predicted to outpace Badroodien, as stated by Daily Maverick. Alongside Smith’s election, key positions have been filled: Ricardo Mackenzie, Patricia van der Ross, and Phindile Maxiti claimed the Deputy Chairperson slots, Theresa Uys took the Secretary title, and Ian McMahon was chosen as the Chairperson of Finance.
Supplementing this roster are additional members Abdulkader Elyas, Grant Twigg, Rob Quintas, and Mzwakhe Nqavashe. Presiding officer Desiree van der Walt is set to steward the region into the 2024 election campaign and beyond, echoing the DA’s dedication to democratic internal election procedures and emphasizing unity amidst internal contestation.
Smith, now in command of the DA Cape Town Metro, declared that the party’s grand ambition is to unseat the ANC in the forthcoming elections, stressing on the importance of the next electoral cycle.
In the Western Cape, the DA is further gearing up for their provincial congress slated for November, where the spotlight’s poised onto Bonginkosi Madikizela, former Western Cape DA Provincial leader, and current Provincial interim leader, Tertius Simmers.