Madikizela withdraws from DA leadership race
Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela has withdrawn from the race to become the party’s interim federal leader.
Maidikizela, who is also the Western Cape provincial minister of transport and public works, is said to have handed in his withdrawal last week.
This leaves DA parliamentary leader John Steenhuisen and member of the Gauteng provincial legislature Makashule Gana as the only two candidates ahead of this weekend’s election.
The official opposition is without a leader following Mmusi Maimane’s resignation in October.
READ: Mmusi Maimane resigns from Parliament, DA
Federal elections presiding officer Désirée Van Der Walt confirms Madikizela is still a member of the DA in good standing.
“That is what happens in the Democratic Alliance, people are free to be nominated and people are also free to use their own choice to whether they would like to continue or to withdraw.
“There is no specific reason, there is no specific issue, he chose to withdraw and we have accepted that withdrawal.”
The interim leader, whose identity will be known on Sunday, will hold the position until a permanent leader is appointed at a congress next year.