Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng member of provincial legislature (MPL) Makashule Gana has officially entered the race for DA interim leader.
Gana made the announcement via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. He joins parliamentary leader John Steenhuisen and Western Cape DA leader Bonginkosi Madikizela in the race.
He wrote, “After some reflections of what has been going on in the past few days and running, I have today accepted nomination for the position of @Our_DA Interim Federal Leader. I am answering to the call of our activists across the country.”
Federal Council meeting on 17 November
Nominations for the high position, as well as that of Federal Chairperson left vacant by Athol Trollip’s resignation, closed at 17h00 on Thursday.
The party’s Federal Council will hold a meeting on 17 November to elect the interim leader and interim Federal Chairperson.
DA will then hold an early congress, tentatively slated for April 2020, to elect its Federal Leader to lead it to the 2021 local government elections.
Another Gauteng DA MPL, Khume Rhamulifho, also announced on Twitter that he will run for interim Federal Chairperson. Other candidates for this position include Dharmesh Dhaya, Ivan Meyer and Nomafrench Mbombo.
Gana’s experience
Gana is a former member of Parliament and has previously served as the party’s Deputy Federal Chairperson.
He is also a former DA Youth Federal Leader and a councillor. He currently serves as a member of Gauteng’s provincial legislature.
Steenhuisen was the first to announce his candidature at the Cape Town Press Club earlier this week.
Making the announcement, Steenhuisen said, “With the collective undying spirit of our immensely hardworking representatives across the country and unwavering support of our army of activists, I want to chart a new way forward for the Democratic Alliance.”
The DA is moving swiftly to fill high-profile posts left vacant by ex-Federal Leader Mmusi Maimane and Trollip’s dramatic resignations.
Last week, Steenhuisen was appointed DA parliamentary leader replacing Maimane.
On Thursday, the party announced Natasha Mazzone as its new Chief Whip in Parliament, a position Steenhuisen held prior to becoming parliamentary leader.