2026 Democratic Alliance Federal Congress

2026 Democratic Alliance leadership election
11–12 April 2026
 
Candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis Sibusiso Dyonase
Party DA DA
Result Elected Not elected
Previous Leader

John Steenhuisen

 Elected leader

Geordin Hill-Lewis

The Democratic Alliance held a national elective conference to determine its federal leadership on 11 and 12 April 2026. Nominations for leadership positions were open from 27 February to 23 March 2026. The results were announced on 12 April 2026.[1][2][3]

Then Federal leader John Steenhuisen announced on 4 February 2026 that he would not seek another term as federal leader at the congress. Helen Zille also declined to run for another term as chairperson of the party's Federal Council.[4] Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sedibeng councilor Sibusiso Dyonase contested the leadership.[5]

Hill-Lewis was elected DA leader with Solly Msimanga elected as the party's federal chairperson. Solly Malatsi, Cilliers Brink and Siviwe Gwarube were elected as the three deputy federal chairersons.[6] Ashor Sarupen was elected chairperson of the Federal Council with JP Smith, Thomas Walters and Carl Pophaim as his deputies.[6] Dr Mark John Burke was elected federal finance chairperson.[6]

The federal leadership elected at this congress will lead the party into the 2026 South African municipal elections.[7]

Background

The Democratic Alliance held its previous elective conference in April 2023 where incumbent federal leader John Steenhuisen and Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille were re-elected to their posts, respectively.[8][9] Steenhuisen led the party into the 2024 general election where the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and subsequently formed an unprecedented coalition with the latter.[10] DA members of parliament were given posts in president Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet with Steenhuisen being appointed as the Minister of Agriculture.[11]

On 20 September 2025, Zille was announced as the party's mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg ahead of the 2026 South African municipal elections.[12]

In November 2025, Steenhuisen requested that the DA federal finance chairperson Dion George be removed as the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment which led to a public fallout between George and Steenhuisen and resulted in George accusing Steenhuisen of abusing his party-issued credit card.[13][14]

The DA subsequently launched an investigation into the fallout between Steenhuisen and George.[15] On 12 January 2026, the party's Federal Legal Commission cleared Steenhuisen on the allegations that he abused his party-issued credit card, but the party's Federal Executive did resolve to continue an investigations into whether the actions of Steenhuisen and George brought the party into disrepute.[16] George resigned from the DA on 15 January 2026.[17]

On 21 January 2026, Zille announced that she would not seek re-election as federal council chair at the party's congress.[4] Steenhuisen announced during a press conference on 4 February 2026 that he would not seek re-election to another term, despite having declared that he would do so earlier.[18] Steenhuisen was under pressure for his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa[19] and had reportedly fallen out with Zille, however, Zille and Steenhuisen have denied this.[20][21]

Leadership election

Candidates

Not nominated

Federal chairperson election

Candidates

Deputy federal chairperson elections

Three candidates will be elected as deputy federal chairpersons.[2]

Candidates

Federal council chairperson election

Incumbent Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille had announced her intention to retire from the position.[29] Only federal council delegates had the opportunity to vote in this election.[30]

Candidates

  • Ashor Sarupen, Deputy federal council chairperson since 2020 and the Deputy Minister of Finance since 2024
  • Werner Horn, House Chairperson since 2024 and former DA provincial chairperson in the Free State[30]
  • Neo Mokoena[30]

Deputy federal council chairpersons election

Only federal council delegates had the opportunity to elect deputy federal council chairpersons.[30]

Candidates

  • Deonay Balie[30]
  • Sibusiso Dyonase[30]
  • Annelie Lotriet, deputy speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2024 and incumbent deputy federal council chairperson[30]
  • Innocent James Mabaso[30]
  • Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape provincial minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament[30]
  • John Popifa Makoela[30]
  • Nomafrench Mbombo, former Western Cape provincial minister of Health and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament[30]
  • Lungile Phenyane[30]
  • Carl Pophaim, Cape Town mayoral committee member for human settlements[30]
  • Segope Gabriel Sathekge[30]
  • Sello Seitlholo, deputy minister of water and sanitation since 2024[30]
  • JP Smith, Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security and incumbent deputy federal chairperson[30]
  • Thomas Walters, incumbent deputy federal council chairperson and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament[30]

Disqualified

Federal finance chairperson

Only Federal Council delegates were permitted to vote in this election.[30] Federal finance chairperson Dion George had resigned from the party in January 2026 following a falling out between him and John Steenhuisen.[32]

Candidates

Results

Elections were held during the morning session on 12 April 2026. The results were announced during the afternoon session.

Geordin Hill-Lewis was elected the party's new federal leader, defeating Sibusiso Dyonase, the party's caucus leader in the Sedibeng District Municipality.[33]

Solly Msimanga was elected federal chairperson, defeating incumbent Ivan Meyer. Siviwe Gwarube, Cilliers Brink and Solly Malatsi was elected as the three deputy federal chairpersons, respectively.[33]

Ashor Sarupen was elected as the chairperson of the Federal Council with JP Smith, Thomas Walters and Carl Pophaim elected as the three deputy federal council chairpersons.[6]

Mark Burke was elected federal finance chairperson.[6]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "DA confirms 2026 Elective Congress". www.polity.org.za. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "DA announces candidates for Federal Council election". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  3. ↑ Bridget, Masango. "DA Federal Congress 2026: Nominations for Leadership Candidates are open".
  4. 1 2 Dentlinger, Lindsay. "Zille rules out standing for another term as DA's Federal Council chair". EWN. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Two contenders emerge for DA leader ahead of elective congress". Polity. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Bega, Sheree (2026-04-12). "Hill-Lewis takes helm of DA leadership". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  7. ↑ Kotze, Dirk (2026-02-10). "South Africa's biggest opposition party will head to municipal elections with new leaders: what does it all mean?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  8. ↑ "DA re-elects John Steenhuisen as federal leader by a landslide". Business Day. 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  9. ↑ "DA Leadership Election Results". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  10. ↑ "ANC and DA reach deal to form South African government of national unity". www.bbc.com. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  11. ↑ "Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the appointment of Members of the National Executive | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  12. ↑ Haffajee, Ferial (2025-09-20). "'From Dada to Gogo' – DA announces Helen Zille as party's candidate for Joburg mayor". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  13. ↑ "Dion George quits the DA". Business Day. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  14. ↑ Davis, Rebecca (2025-11-18). "Big-spending Steenhuisen faces scrutiny as DA fallout over axed Dion George continues". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  15. ↑ Hip, Chante Ho. "DA launches disciplinary investigation into Steenhuisen-George spat". EWN. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  16. ↑ "Media statement on the outcomes of the DA's Federal Executive meeting". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  17. ↑ Molapo, Maki. "Long-standing DA member Dion George cuts ties with the party". EWN. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  18. ↑ Plessis, Carien du (2026-02-04). "South Africa DA shakeup: Out with John Steenhuisen – and in with Helen Zille's favourite?". The Africa Report. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  19. ↑ "Not good enough, John Steenhuisen". Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  20. ↑ "Zille dismisses claims of a rift between her and Steenhuisen". The Mail & Guardian. 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  21. ↑ Seeletsa, Molefe (2026-02-08). "Steenhuisen denies claims of Zille power play, says DA leadership exit was his own decision". The Citizen. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  22. 1 2 "Cape Town Mayor is Favorite to Lead South Africa's No. 2 Party". Bloomberg. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  23. ↑ Ngoepe, Karabo (2026-02-02). "Geordin Hill-Lewis 'always the heir' to DA leadership, claims former party insider". IOL. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  24. ↑ "Gwarube eyes top DA post". The Mail & Guardian. 2026-01-22. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  25. 1 2 "After Steenhuisen quits as Democratic Alliance leader, three contenders have emerged in the race to succeed him". www.africa-confidential.com. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  26. ↑ Heyns, Tania (2026-02-03). "Dié kandidate kan Steenhuisen dalk opvolg". Maroela Media (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  27. 1 2 Goba, Thabiso. "Msimanga considering running for top position on DA leadership structure". EWN. Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  28. ↑ Heyns, Tania (2026-02-03). "Dié kandidate kan Steenhuisen dalk opvolg". Maroela Media (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2026-02-22.
  29. ↑ Majadibodu, Simon (2026-02-18). "Zille to step down as DA federal council chair after Ward 102 win". IOL. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "DA announces candidates for Federal Council election". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  31. ↑ Bega, Sheree (2026-03-21). "'I don't owe the DA a cent' – Karabo Khakhau hits back after conference disqualification over R4 250 tithe". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  32. ↑ Macupe, Bongekile. "UPDATE | 'Not defeated, but hurt' – Dion George on his resignation from DA". News24. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  33. 1 2 "Geordin Hill-Lewis elected as new DA federal leader". EWN. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
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