The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape chose Bonginkosi Madikizela as its leader during the party’s provincial congress on Saturday.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has been elected as his deputy.
Madikizela’s challenger for the position was legislature speaker Masizole Mnqasela.
The congress, which was held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed delegates to cast their electronic votes at various locations across the province.
“We have to unite as the party if we are serious about saving SA and if we are serious about governing the Western Cape, if we are serious about making sure that come 2021, we govern all the municipalities in the Western Cape,” Madikizela said shortly after the election result was announced on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier last week, reports emerged of an alleged plot by Madikizela to assassinate Mnqasela, which Madikizela denounced as a campaign to smear him ahead of the conference.
DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille said the party had found no evidence supporting the assassination plot claims.
In the other leadership positions National Council of Provinces delegate Jaco Londt was chosen to be the party’s provincial chairperson with JP Smith, Grant Twigg and Geordin Hill-Lewis elected vice-chairpersons.
Erik Marais is the party’s provincial chairperson of finance.
Additional members are Peter Helfrich, Carl Pophaim, Zimkitha Sulelo and Lorraine Botha.
IOL