Former Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga says his 22 years in the Democratic Alliance have prepared him to grow the party nationally and make it the senior partner in government.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial leader in Gauteng and a member of the provincial legislature Solly Msimanga, has announced his candidacy for the party’s federal chairperson position.
Msimanga made the announcement on Friday at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.
The position is currently held by Ivan Meyer.
The DA has opened nominations for its top leadership positions ahead of its federal congress in April.
Msimanga said he was humbled to accept the nomination and outlined a vision focused on strengthening party structures and devolving power within the organisation.
“We need to make sure that our activists are trained and that there is capacity to engage every available voter in each and every community,” he said.
“We need federal leadership that understands that building structures is what is going to get us to where we need to be.”
He said he was passionate about rebalancing power within the federal party, arguing that too much authority had become concentrated at the centre.
“We are a federal party. We believe in the devolution of power in government, and therefore we should believe in the same internally,” he said.
“Provincial, regional and ground structures have little voice in decisions that affect them.”
Msimanga said the federal council, which has the widest representation of party structures, should play a stronger role in decision-making.
“Our members must feel heard. Our branches must feel respected. Our structures must feel valued,” he said.
“We need leadership that will speak up for our structures, even when it is uncomfortable.”
He added that he would not remain silent if the party veered from its core principles, particularly while in government.
“We will not dilute our standards just because we are in government,” he said. “If people know what you stand for, they know you will not veer.”
Msimanga said his 22 years in the DA had prepared him for the role.
He has served as a councillor, caucus chairperson, regional chairperson, provincial director, provincial leader, caucus leader and premier candidate.
He was also mayor of the City of Tshwane from 2016 to 2019.
“I have governed in a complex metro,” he said, recalling early challenges in office, including protests and hostility.
“But I understood that it had to be done, no matter how hard it was.”
He described himself as tested and fearless, pointing to incidents during campaigning in areas such as Soshanguve and Mamelodi, where he said he and other party leaders faced resistance.
Meanwhile at the DA’s federal congress in 2018, Msimanga contested the federal chairperson position but lost to Athol Trollip.
Trollip has since left the DA and now serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) for ActionSA.
At the party’s 2022 federal congress, Meyer was elected unopposed, while Msimanga remained the DA’s Gauteng leader.
Msimanga said the party must prepare for the 2026 local government elections and build towards the 2029 national and provincial polls.
“This is achievable. This is within reach,” he said.
“But it requires leadership that is known, capable and fearless.”
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