Midrand – The Democratic Alliance (DA) kicked off its two-day federal congress at the Gala Convention Center in Midrand on Sunday, where over 2,000 delegates are expected to elect a new federal leader, chairperson, and three deputy chairpersons.
Current leaders John Steenhuisen and Helen Zille are not contesting the positions. The congress is viewed as a pivotal moment for the party, which has repeatedly stated its ambition to become the biggest political party in South Africa by 2029.
Speaking on the sidelines of the congress, Sedibeng caucus leader Sibusiso Dyonase, who is vying for the DA federal leader position, asserted that the DA remains the only party with a concrete and tested plan to deliver effective service delivery across the country.
In an interview, Dyonase emphasised the need for the DA to intensify its ground-level efforts. “We are living in a space where the political space is shifting. It’s evolving. So what we need to do right now as the Democratic Alliance to become the biggest party is to go in there, put on our boots and go to our communities and make sure that we get each and every South African to come and vote for the Democratic Alliance,” he said.
Addressing questions about his relatively young age of 33 and limited national profile compared to other contenders, Dyonase noted that the federal congress is “not a popularity contest” but a decision for the 2,043 delegates to choose a leader they believe can move the party forward.
He outlined his key priorities if elected: strengthening the party’s internal democracy to ensure all branches and ancillaries feel represented, investing in capacity building and continuous training for staff and activists, and deploying more “boots on the ground” to spread the DA’s message ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Dyonase highlighted the DA’s track record in governance as central to its message. “Look at all the municipalities that the Democratic Alliance is actually in government. The clean audits… the president of South Africa has mentioned that all these municipalities that are doing the right thing are DA-run municipalities,” he said.
He added: “The Democratic Alliance is the only party that has a concrete and solid and tested plan to bring good service delivery to the South Africans. We want every corner of South Africa to actually feel the DA difference.”
On party unity, Dyonase stressed that regardless of the congress outcome, DA structures must unite behind a common goal. “We need to unite South Africans behind the Democratic Alliance and we can only do that if we are united as the members, as the branches, as the ancillaries and all the structures of the Democratic Alliance,” he said.
He dismissed concerns about the party no longer being in pure opposition due to its role in the Government of National Unity (GNU), insisting the core message remains focused on delivering world-class service delivery through proven DA governance.
Dyonase expressed confidence in his support base, stating his votes are spread across all provinces, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, and Western Cape.
The leadership contest pits Dyonase against Jordan Hill-Lewis, the Executive Mayor of Cape Town. Voting is expected to conclude on the second day of the congress, with the outcome determining the direction of the DA heading into the critical 2026 local elections and the 2029 national polls.