DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille will be unchallenged when the party holds its federal congress next month.
Announcing the names of candidates nominated by members for the party's top leadership positions yesterday, spokesman Mmusi Maimane denied there was anything undemocratic about this.
He said it was rather a matter of members' unwillingness to put themselves up against Zille.
"It's a healthy democracy. Any member in good standing can contest for a position.," Maimane said.
DA MP Athol Trollip has refused to accept nomination by members.
The party said it would not accept nominations from the floor.
Incumbent federal chairman Wilmot James has been nominated to remain in his position, but will have to battle it out with MP Masizole Mnqasela.
Mnqasela landed in hot water with the party earlier this year after his remark that DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko was not black enough to lead the party.
He was hauled before a disciplinary hearing but charges of misconduct against him were withdrawn after he apologised.
Mnqasela was also under a cloud after allegations that he had asked provincial leaders to award a tender to a company he was linked to.
A total of nine candidates will battle it out for the three deputy federal chair positions.
This includes Maimane, DA Youth leader Makashule Gana, Western Cape human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela and North West leader - and former Independent Democrats parliamentary leader - Joe McGluwa.
Other positions that are uncontested include that of federal council chairman James Selfe and that of chairman of the federal legal commission Hendrik Schmidt.
Greg Krumbok, the party's presiding officer and convener, said each election will be conducted by secret ballot, while the deputy federal chair positions will be done using a computerised system.
Maimane said the list represented diverse people from various provinces.
The two-day congress - which is the highest decision-making body - from November 24 to 25 will be attended by a total of 1650 delegates.
Krumbok said the membership of the party had tripled since 2009 but refused to give details.
He said the congress would see 505 more members than the last one.
Zille stands uncontested
DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille will be unchallenged when the party holds its federal congress next month.
Announcing the names of candidates nominated by members for the party's top leadership positions yesterday, spokesman Mmusi Maimane denied there was anything undemocratic about this.
He said it was rather a matter of members' unwillingness to put themselves up against Zille.
"It's a healthy democracy. Any member in good standing can contest for a position.," Maimane said.
DA MP Athol Trollip has refused to accept nomination by members.
The party said it would not accept nominations from the floor.
Incumbent federal chairman Wilmot James has been nominated to remain in his position, but will have to battle it out with MP Masizole Mnqasela.
Mnqasela landed in hot water with the party earlier this year after his remark that DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko was not black enough to lead the party.
He was hauled before a disciplinary hearing but charges of misconduct against him were withdrawn after he apologised.
Mnqasela was also under a cloud after allegations that he had asked provincial leaders to award a tender to a company he was linked to.
A total of nine candidates will battle it out for the three deputy federal chair positions.
This includes Maimane, DA Youth leader Makashule Gana, Western Cape human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela and North West leader - and former Independent Democrats parliamentary leader - Joe McGluwa.
Other positions that are uncontested include that of federal council chairman James Selfe and that of chairman of the federal legal commission Hendrik Schmidt.
Greg Krumbok, the party's presiding officer and convener, said each election will be conducted by secret ballot, while the deputy federal chair positions will be done using a computerised system.
Maimane said the list represented diverse people from various provinces.
The two-day congress - which is the highest decision-making body - from November 24 to 25 will be attended by a total of 1650 delegates.
Krumbok said the membership of the party had tripled since 2009 but refused to give details.
He said the congress would see 505 more members than the last one.
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