Meet the possible contenders for the DA’s top job
South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is heading to its federal congress in April 2026 to elect its top-brass.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has been the DA’s federal leader since October 2019, initially as interim leader, and was subsequently elected in 2020. He was re-elected in 2023, defeating former Johannesburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse.
Steenhusien is running for re-election, however, speculation is mounting that the race is heating up.
This comes amid factional tensions, including public mudslinging with former DA minister Dion George, who was axed from cabinet in November 2025 at the request of Steenhuisen and recent scandals involving Steenhuisen’s alleged credit card debt and misuse of party funds.
Political analyst Piet Croucamp has predicted Steenhuisen may be asked to step aside, calling him “not a good party leader” and questioning his presidential viability.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Croucamp said “the DA says that they value sound management and they don’t tolerate corruption, they don’t tolerate mismanagement,” Croucamp said.
“Now, do they do that when it comes to their own leadership structures? Can they do that introspection and hold people accountable?”
No official candidates have been declared as of December 2025, but media reports and political commentary highlight several prominent figures as likely contenders or “front-runners.”
Newsday also spoke to several well-placed DA officials on sentiments within the party on possible candidates.
Discussions reflect speculation about potential successors like Geordin Hill-Lewis, Solly Malatsi, or Alan Winde, with some claiming “Steenhuisen is done.”
Despite this, insiders report broad member support for him, and he has launched a “fight back” against internal attacks.
Regardless, these are some of the possible contenders for the federal leadership position. While speculative, these names have been thrown around the most in our reporting and discussions.
John Steenhuisen
Steenhuisen, born in 1976 in Durban began his political involvement in the 1990s with the Democratic Party and was elected as one of Durban’s youngest councillors in 1999.
After the formation of the DA in 2000, he served as a local councillor and later moved into provincial politics in KwaZulu-Natal.
He was elected to the National Assembly in 2011 and served as Shadow Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs before becoming Chief Whip of the Official Opposition in 2014.
In 2019 he became Leader of the Opposition, and in 2020 he was elected Federal Leader of the DA.
In the 2024 national election under his leadership, the DA increased its vote share and entered a Government of National Unity with the African National Congress, and Steenhuisen was appointed Minister of Agriculture in July 2024.
Steenhuisen’s tenure has seen both strategic successes and internal tensions.
He has defended the DA’s role within the national coalition government, while navigating disputes with the ANC over budget and policy direction.
More recently the DA has faced internal controversy, particularly a public feud between Steenhuisen and senior party figure George after George’s removal as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Media reports and party sources describe allegations involving Steenhuisen’s personal finances, including a default judgment over unpaid credit card debt and questions about use of a DA credit card .
These have been referred to the party’s Federal Legal Commission as part of an internal investigation.
Steenhuisen has rejected claims of impropriety and framed criticism as politically motivated, calling for party unity ahead of the DA’s 2026 leadership conference.
Geordin Hill-Lewis
Hill-Lewis was born in 1986 in Plettenberg Bay and is currently serving as Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town.
He began his political involvement in student politics at the University of Cape Town, where he launched the DA’s first student branch.
Hill-Lewis was elected to Parliament in 2011 at age 24, becoming the youngest MP since 1994, and served as the party’s Shadow Minister of Finance and earlier as Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry.
He also worked as chief of staff to then DA leader Helen Zille.
Hill-Lewis is widely seen as a political ally of Steenhuisen, repeatedly stating that he will not challenge him for party leadership as long as Steenhuisen intends to run again.
Solly Malatsi
Malats, born 22 December 1985 has a long history with the DA, starting as a student activist and Young Leaders Programme graduate in 2007, before becoming a Member of Parliament in 2014.
He held a range of shadow cabinet roles, including Shadow Minister of Human Settlements and Shadow Minister in the Presidency.
Malatsi also served twice as the party’s national spokesperson and was elected Deputy Federal Chairperson of the DA in 2023.
He holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Limpopo and an Honours degree in Political Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Following the 2024 general election and formation of the GNU, Malatsi was appointed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in July 2024.
Alan Winde
Winde, born 1965, is currently serving as Premier of the Western Cape — a position he first assumed on 22 May 2019 and continued after being re‑elected in June 2024.
Before provincial leadership, Winde entered politics as an independent councillor on the South Cape District Council in 1996.
He then joined the Democratic Party and being elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 1999.
He has held several senior provincial government roles, including MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, MEC for Economic Opportunities, and MEC for Community Safety.
Winde grew up on a farm and operated multiple businesses in Knysna before entering politics.
Helen Zille (unlikely)
Zille, born 1951 in Johannesburg, is a veteran South African politician, former journalist and anti‑apartheid activist.
She entered politics in the 1990s, joining the Democratic Party (DP) and later the DA, rising to national prominence as leader of the DA from 2007 to 2015.
Zille also served as Mayor of Cape Town (2006–2009) and Premier of the Western Cape (2009–2019).
After leaving the premiership she became Federal Council Chairperson of the DA, a key internal governance role.
Amid a broader strategic push by the DA to reclaim major metros, Zille has redirected her focus from national party leadership to local governance in Johannesburg, where she was named the party’s mayoral candidate for the 2026 elections.
Newsday reported that while some within the DA had encouraged her to consider returning to the party’s top leadership, she has declined such overtures.
She has stated that winning and governing Johannesburg would demand her full attention and that she has no plans to challenge for DA federal leadership as long as her energy is committed to the metro.
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I said it when it happened, the DA joining the GNU was a stupid mistake. It was like adding ice cream to excrement, does wonders for the excrement and nothing at all for the ice cream. Lets look at results, Steenhuizen has done nothing for agriculture in South Africa, Schreiber has made it increasingly difficult for foreigners to work in SA, but has left the borders as porous as they always were (what does he think increasingly desperate people will do so that their families survive?), their esteemed major of Cape Town is gouging his supporters using property rates and delivering nothing for the money, the DA ministers all act like woke, New World Order ANC clones, bowing down to their oh-so-ethical boss (are you dumb enough to think that the money in the couch was earned honestly?). Whom the DA elect as leader is irrelevant, thinking South Africans will take their vote elsewhere and avoid supporting the ANC, DA, MK and, heaven forbid, the EFF. We need fresh leadership in a government for the people ,by the people.