\n\t\tJohn Steenhuisen will officially step down as DA federal leader in April.\n\t<\/p>\n
The man challenging Geordin Hill-Lewis to lead the DA in the upcoming federal congress says he was not forced to put his hand up to run against the mayor of Cape Town.<\/p>\n
Sibusiso Dyonase, 33, from Midvaal in Gauteng, has been officially announced as the only black candidate challenging Hill-Lewis for the party\u2019s top job.<\/p>\n
Some in the party believe he has been placed there as an opponent of Hill-Lewis for appearance purposes, but he has denied it. <\/p>\n
There were also reports that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga and other notable party leaders would raise their hands to contest Hill-Lewis, but they did not.<\/p>\n
Instead, it was Dyonase who placed his name in the hat for the position.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no way I would allow myself to be used as a token because I did this and I believe in my leadership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is democracy, the delegates must be given a choice to choose,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
If Dyonase is elected, he will become the party\u2019s first black leader since Mmusi Maimane left the party in 2019.<\/p>\n
One of the reasons Maimane left the party was his differences with party leaders<\/a>\u00a0over race issues.<\/p>\n Dyonase is currently a councillor for the DA in the Sedibeng district municipality. He holds a higher certificate in accounting sciences and is studying a degree in public procurement through the University of South Africa (Unisa).<\/p>\n Nervous but confident<\/p>\n He said he is nervous about the upcoming congress, but he believes he is just as capable as Hill-Lewis of taking the DA to the upcoming local government elections and growing the party.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe that I am capable of leading, and my past experience in various roles in the DA has emboldened me to have the confidence to raise my hand. <\/p>\n \u201cI believe that I adapt very quickly to challenging situations as a learner, and the DA is a party of equal opportunity; people should choose the person with whom they resonate.<\/p>\n \u201cI have also contributed to the party in many ways. I have been with the DA since I was 15,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Choose me on merit, not race<\/p>\n Questioned about the controversial race issues in the DA, he said he believes leaders should be elected on \u201cmerit\u201d and not because of their race.<\/p>\n \u201cThe DA is the most diverse party. We do not need any race <\/a>to lead the DA, we need capable leaders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dyonase said if he becomes DA leader, he will ensure that all South Africans unite behind the DA.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is now clear that the DA is the only party that can deliver services to South Africans and take the country forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n