Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
04 April 2023 | 13:14 CAT

Photo Credit: EWN

John Steenhuisen has been re-elected as the leader of the opposition DA party, with Dr Mpho Phalatse stating she will remain a party member, despite not being elected to the party’s top position. After his election, Steenhuisen announced that his party, with the help of other opposition parties, should come together and reset the politics of South Africa.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said 2024 would be the party’s “Moonshot Election”, saying the official opposition had taken a “giant leap forward” heading to the following year’s elections.

Discussing the reappointment of Steenhuisen with Radio Islam International, political analyst North West Professor Andre Duvenhage said, at the same time, Steenhuisen’s re-election is a positive development, the decision of Mpho Phalatse to stay on is good as she plays a critical role in the party’s future.

Steenhuisen said the DA is entering the upcoming elections in a strong position and further made a comment that indicates that the DA will under no circumstances join any coalition with the ANC.

“While there’ll be many more parties on the ballot paper than ever before, it’s becoming increasingly clear to everybody that this is a two-horse race. Even without outright majorities, there’s only one of two parties that can emerge at the centre of a coalition government. And that is either the DA or the ANC.”

Meanwhile, according to CapeTalk, should the moonshot fail, Steenhuisen says that the DA will do whatever is needed to prevent the EFF from getting into government, including an ANC-DA coalition, as nothing is off the table.

He adds that if the EFF is in power, it will be ‘doomsday’ for South Africa, as their policies will put the country on a fast track to a failed state.

Listen to the full interview with host Annisa Essack on Radio Islam’s podcast.