MBOMBELA – The leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature was unsuccessful in his bid to attain a federal leadership position this past weekend.
Mr Anthony Benadie contested the position of deputy federal chairman during the DA’s sixth federal congress held in Port Elizabeth’s Boardwalk conference centre on Saturday and Sunday.
Benadie has stood for deputy chair of the federal council, but lost out to incumbent, Mr Thomas Walters.
“I am disappointed,” Benadie told Lowvelder. “You are in it to win it, but you must be prepared to lose. It is a privilege and an honour for anyone to contest a position in the federal leadership.
“We respect the democratic choices of the members. Now we will gear up to rally behind those who have been elected to make sure our political agenda is successfully executed and to ensure the DA is successful and the country is successful.”
He congratulated new party leader Mr Musi Maimane on being elected to lead the party on Twitter. He also thanked his supporters. “Although I did not win, the DA and RSA won at #DACongress. The cause continues.”
The DA’s new leadership:
Federal congress leader: Mr Mmusi Maimane.
Federal chairman: Mr Atholl Trollip.
First federal deputy chairman: Mr Ivan Meyer
Second deputy chairman: Ms Refiloe Ntsekhe.
Third deputy chairman: Ms Desiree van der Walt.
Chairman of the federal council: Mr James Selfe.
Deputy chairman of the Federal council: Mr Thomas Walters.
Chairman of the federal finance committee: Mr Alf Lees.
