Bonginkosi Madikizela has dropped out of the race to become the interim leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). This was announced on Monday.
This means that there are now two people contesting for the post, which will be decided this weekend at the party’s federal council meeting. John Steenhuisen, the former chief whip and current parliamentary leader and Makashule Gana, a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, are the two remaining candidates.
Madikizela is the party’s leader in the Western Cape. According to News24, Madikizela said that he had decided to withdraw from contesting for the interim post as he still had much work to do in the Western Cape. He also said he would consider running for the position at the party’s congress in May next year, when a permanent federal leader will be elected.
The position of party leader became vacant following the resignation of Mmusi Maimane last month.
The party will also be electing an interim federal chair this weekend, following the resignation of Athol Trollip on the same day that Maimane quit his post.