New DA leader elected for Mpumalanga
Lowvelder's exclusive video interview with the party's new provincial leader reveals a summary of his approach.
WHITE RIVER – Mr Anthony Benadie, who had served as the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) provincial leader in Mpumalanga for just shy of eight years, passed the baton to new provincial leader Mr James Masango during the party’s Provincial Congress on Saturday.
Masango, former provincial chairman of the Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga, was elected as the party’s new provincial leader without any opposition. The party’s former deputy provincial leader, Ms Jane Sithole, was unanimously elected as provincial chairman.
Ms Sonja Boshoff was appointed as Masango’s deputy, with Mr Ken Robertson as Sithole’s deputy. Benade had worked closely with Masango for the past 15 years and expressed his confidence in the party’s new provincial leader. “I have expressed my support of Masango’s candidacy and do so again today,” he said.
When asked what advice he would like to give his successor,Benade said, “Emotional connectedness and passion for the soil on which you walk are imperative. People vote emotionally. Remain true to who you are and what the DA stands for.” Ms Helen Zille, the party’s national leader, reiterated the DA’s core values, “Integrity, non-racialism, rule-of-law and our constitution. Both Benade and Masango stand for these values.”
According to Zille, the party intends to apply the same principles that worked for the Western Cape, in Mpumalanga, should they become the reigning party. “If we can’t take you all to the Western Cape, we’ll bring that province’s level of service delivery to you in Mpumalanga,” she said.
Masango emphasised the value of non-racialism during his media address after accepting the position of new provincial leader. “I am a leader. This is not a black man replacing a white man. This is one leader succeeding another.” Masango said he would continue to advocate improvements in the province’s health and education sectors.
“The DA leads by example. We want to take our success stories and multiply them. That is why we say we want to do for you what we are doing in the Western Cape.”
Benade announced that his political career is far from over. “I am proud to announce my candidacy to be elected as the DA’s deputy chairman for the federal council when the party’s federal congress meets in Port Elizabeth in May this year. I am ready to serve in the party’s national leadership, because together, we are shaping the future.”
