Siphelele Nketo
THE newly elected leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal, Sitehmbiso Ngema, has set a striving target to grow the party by engaging communities, DA branches and councillors.
He said the party has built relationships with amaKhosi and isiNduna; now the task ahead is to strengthen that relationship.
He was elected provincial leader at the party’s provincial congress in Durban last week.
The congress brought together delegates from across the province to elect provincial leadership and to engage them on key party matters, including the future direction of the DA in KZN.
Delegates elected the following new leaders: Sithembiso Ngema (provincial leader), Martin Meyer (deputy), Dean Macpherson (provincial chairperson), Sandile Mnikathi (first deputy chairperson), Sakhile Mngadi (second deputy chairperson) and Swelakhe Shelembe (third deputy chairperson).
They promised to work hard to be the dominant party in municipalities across KZN.
Ngema said he will work side-by-side with all structures and members of the party and present leadership.
“We have engaged businesses, ratepayers’ associations, church leaders and all other community organisations to ensure that we move forward together to achieve positive goals and to win our targeted municipalities,” he said. In the speech, Geordin Hill-Lewis, the DA leader, outlined the party’s task, saying it is set to become the biggest party in the KZN province.
“The DA must be a party that can work with others where necessary, but never lose itself in the process. A party that can enter complex coalition terrain and still remain principled, disciplined and clear about what it stands for,” he said. In speaking about the November 4 local government elections, he said that the party is ready for the test, while calling for party members to fight for victory in municipalities, mentioning eThekwini.
“We must say clearly to the people of eThekwini that this city can work, beaches can be clean, taps can run reliably and streets can be safe,” he stated.
He further called for party members to strengthen registration campaigns ahead of this year’s elections.
