Hill-Lewis remains the overwhelming favourite to replace John Steenhuisen as DA federal leader but Dyanase’s candidacy has turned the race into a debate over internal democracy

Democratic Alliance delegates are set to gather in Midrand, north of Johannesburg on 11 and 12 April to elect new leaders

DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga put his hand up for the federal chair position held by Ivan Meyer

Senior Democratic Alliance officials are backing Western Cape agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer to replace the party leader as agriculture minister after its April federal congress

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said much of the progress made ‘bears the unmistakable imprint of the DA’s principled participation’ in the government of national unity

The Gauteng leader said provincial officials had approached him to pursue the national position

The Democratic Alliance federal chair says she has been communicating with the party leader on WhatsApp

Agriculture department rejects calls of a ‘vaccine free-for-all’ and says there must be state-led control of vaccination process while farmers battle ongoing outbreaks

Siviwe Gwarube and Geordin Hill-Lewis are among those touted to take over party leadership

The DA leader insists he is “going nowhere” despite his announcement that he will not be contesting for the party’s leadership role

In a message seen by the M&G, he says that even if he does stand as leader, he intends to remain mayor

‘If I stood for re-election, I would have won hands down,’ DA leader says

Sources in the DA say the decision was partly influenced by Steenhuisen’s soured relationship with Helen Zille

Gwarube will vie for the position at the 2026 elective congress, aiming to succeed Helen Zille as federal council chair rather than pursuing the federal leader role

But Zille has rejected claims that she’s attempting to hurt Steenhuisen’s bid for third term

However, commercial farmers say that vaccine shortages and slow implementation are worsening a devastating crisis

Agricultural exports and rural employment highlight Steenhuisen’s tenure, alongside ongoing disease and regulatory pressures

Diplomacy, domestic strains and a test of political authority underlined this year’s presidency

Civil society and animal welfare groups have urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to reject the proposal to replace Dion George with Willem Aucamp

Officials said South Africa’s phytosanitary and biosecurity requirements are world class and the department is awaiting bilateral trade agreements to be resolved to begin exports of beef