Sithembiso Ngema has been elected the new provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal, taking over from Francois Rodgers. Ngema was elected at a conference held in Durban on Saturday, where hundreds of DA delegates converged to elect Rodgers’ replacement.
Delivering a short handover speech, Rodgers said he dedicated 30 years of his life to the party, 15 of which were mainly spent focusing on leadership. He stated that this dedication robbed him of quality time with his family. Ngema and MP Mzamo Billy were nominated for the party’s provincial leader position.
DA’s Vision for KZN
Newly elected DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis opened the conference by declaring that his party was ready to govern the municipalities. He said when voters go to the polls on November 4, they should see how the DA, under Mayor Chris Pappas, improved service delivery in uMngeni Municipality, outside Pietermaritzburg, so that they could choose a different path.
Hill-Lewis said under the DA, the tourist attraction, uMngeni Municipality, would not be an exception in the province, but a beginning, as it proves the party can govern in KwaZulu-Natal well. The Democratic Alliance has a vision for a better KZN, where municipalities are well-governed and provide quality services to their residents.
Key Positions
Ngema’s deputy is Martin Meyer, the MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, while Dean Macpherson was elected as the provincial chairperson. Macpherson’s deputies are Swelakhe Shelembe, Sakhile Mngadi, and Sandile Mnikathi.
According to the South African Government website, the upcoming local government elections will be held on November 4. Hill-Lewis called on party members to go out to recruit young people, whose age qualifies them to vote for the first time, to exercise their democratic right.
- Improved service delivery
- Competent governance
- Accountability
The DA is committed to bringing about positive change in KZN and is ready to govern the municipalities. With Ngema at the helm, the party is poised to make a significant impact in the province.
