Helen Zille has announced that after almost eight years at the helm of the DA she would not stand for re-election at the party’s federal congress in Port Elizabeth on May 9.
Zille was elected DA leader on May 6, 2007. She would however complete her second term as Western Cape premier, which ends in mid-2019. She was elected to this post in May 2014.
“As members of the Federal Executive Committee, we respect Helen Zille’s decision and we believe she has done more than most leaders for any political party. Today was one of those great leadership occasions where Helen put the DA above self interest to make way for new leadership,” said Elza Van Lingen.
“We also salute and thank Helen for her leadership over the past 8 years. It was an honour to serve with her on a Federal level.
We also admire her strength of leadership to make this decision with only the DA’s growth in mind and at heart.
Fortunately the DA has excellent depth of leadership and we believe that there will be a healthy democratic contest for this position, as well as the other leadership positions at the DA’s Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth on 9 May 2015.
In the DA there is a tomorrow and there is hope!, added Van Lingen
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