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DA leader Helen Zille, voiced her support for Lindiwe Mazibuko who won the election to become the leader of the DA in the parliamentary caucus. Photo: Mxolisi Madela
DA leader Helen Zille has described Lindiwe Mazibuko’s election as the party’s parliamentary leader as “a new era for the DA”.
“We have crossed the first Rubicon,” a delighted Zille said today as she emerged from Room E249 in the National Assembly building, where, according to sources, Mazibuko had won with 50 votes to incumbent Athol Trollip’s 31.
“This is a big step into the future for the DA. We are on course for (the) 2014 and 2019 (elections),” Zille said, her arms around Mazibuko.
In a signal that the 31-year-old had won, a burst of applause was followed by ululation from behind the room’s closed doors.
Mazibuko had been tipped to win after it appeared her campaign over the past month had persuaded a comfortable majority of the DA’s 83-member caucus, which includes five ID MPs, to back her. Trollip, the first to leave the room where voting took place, hugged his chief of staff, Jo Cruse, who had been waiting anxiously.
Asked to comment, he said: “Congratulations to Lindiwe!”
New DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko
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“I don’t have any preference in terms of where I’d like to serve going forward. I will discuss my role with the caucus leader.”
Zille said she wanted to pay “deep tribute” to Trollip for his “extraordinary leadership and exceptional graciousness”.
“He has served the party for many decades.”
Mazibuko said she was “humbled and honoured” and “excited about the future”.
She too paid tribute to Trollip, saying: “I am grateful for his warmth and support.”
She was looking forward to following the tradition of her predecessors by continuing to build the party as an effective opposition, and particularly as a government in waiting.
Asked about the winning margins, Zille said: “I don’t think it’s right to talk about margins. People voted differently.”
But caucus members who asked to remain anonymous described Mazibuko’s win as a “landslide victory”.
Mazibuko said: “We are plotting our trajectory rapidly. This will make us a viable alternative to the ANC going forward.”
DA basic education spokesman Wilmot James was elected caucus chairman, defeating Sej Motau, who was on Trollip’s slate.
The outgoing leader of the party’s National Council of Provinces delegation, Watty Watson, will become chief whip, a position appointed by the parliamentary leader.
MP Dianne Kohler Barnard, one of the DA’s eight whips in Parliament, was among those supporting Mazibuko before today’s vote.
She said Mazibuko had run a clean campaign and had a “brilliant vision” for the future of the parliamentary caucus.
“Lindiwe is a visionary, she sees the overall picture, while Athol is a fine administrator.”
Mazibuko was born in Swaziland and raised in Durban.
She attended St Mary’s DSG in Kloof, where she matriculated in 1997. She studied music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal but dropped out a year later because she did not find the course challenging enough.
Mazibuko spent a few years travelling through Europe before returning to South Africa to complete her studies at UCT where she obtained a BA (French, Classics, Media and Writing) in 2006, and a BA Honours in political communication in 2007.
She became involved in politics when she chose Zille as the subject for her honours dissertation.
Thereafter, she worked as a DA researcher for a year before being appointed the party’s national media officer. Mazibuko stood for public office in 2008 and was elected to Parliament in 2009, where she served as the DA’s national spokeswoman and shadow deputy minister of communications.
Her constituency is North Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
Trollip, a provincial DA leader, was born in Bedford in the Eastern Cape. He was deputy head boy and captained the rugby, swimming, water polo and surf livesaving first teams at high school.
Trollip farmed for 20 years, was chairman of the farmers’ association in the Eastern Cape, chaired the Bedford Club, was a committee member of various sporting associations, and an executive member of the Eastern Province Agricultural Union and the “Smaldeel” soil conservation committee.
He was elected councillor in the Amathole district municipality in 1995. In 1999 he was elected to the legislature, and re-elected in 2004.
Trollip served as leader of the DA caucus and leader of the official opposition in the Eastern Cape before his election to Parliament in 2009.
Within the party he held various positions including Democratic Party chairman in 1998 and DA provincial leader since 2002.
Trollip served on the Federal Council and federal executive since 1998. His grandfather was an MP for the United Party and his father a divisional councillor.
He is fluent in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. He has served as the party’s parliamentary leader since 2009.
clayton.barnes@inl.co.za
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Anonymous, wrote
1 black zille's puppet, yeah!! south africa has changed. seriously! This is the way that zille is gonna the DA in the future, behind Mazibuko but calling all the shots.She wouldn't be able to do that to trollip. She is just the face nothing more, as it happen on some BEE companies in the country. A black face in front of the white WEE
Anonymous, wrote
I do not support the DA, but I say congratulations to the girl. She is young and bright, will pose a threat to the ruling party. Whether she is really against blacks or not, give her a chance.
shaheed, wrote
Well done . You will be our first Lady President. You go girl!
BnQE, wrote
To all of you who are not willing to give this a chance and some support - you deserve nothing better than being ruled by the ANC ...
charles, wrote
Amusing how those who push for AA ,BEE ,EE and non racila society are so quick to label her a white sympathiser . Such weak characters they are !!
Congrats, wrote
Congratulations, this is the future of our country; this is the way to go. Less racial polarization and yes I agree with one of the previous comments you change a party from within. A strong opposition , free speech and media are the only we will succeed. A one party state is definitely not the way to go.
Congrats, wrote
Congratulations, this is the future of our country; this is the way to go. Less racial polarization and yes I agree with one of the previous comments you change a party from within. A strong opposition , free speech and media are the only we will succeed. A one party state is definitely not the way to go.
Kenny Majozi, wrote
Bad move - Mazibuko does not resonate with black people at large and that's a fact! Athol should've stayed, he resonates more with black people than she does. It's an open secret that some of the black members in the DA were not in favour of having her lead them!!!
Brian Gerard Hart, wrote
Please investigate the Mayor's contribution to the riot in Sedgefield past Tuesday. I'm able to submit observations.
Frank Hartry, wrote
Mazibuko is going to keep the ANC in parliment on their toes. She has more brains than the ANC members of parliment put togeher. Trollip was far too friendly to the ANC. I'll wager that likr his predecessors Leon, Gibson, Botha and Camara,Trollip is looking to the ANC for a lucrative Ambassadoral position. (Edited by IOL)
G, wrote
A point of accurate reporting. You say she was elected to parliament in 2009. The last MP's to be elected were pre-1994, since then MP's have been appointed by a political party. The electorate has no say in who is to be an MP.
charles murchie, wrote
Thank God ...the wind of chance is blowing
Anonymous, wrote
Cecile-Ann it is your short sightedness that is the saddest thing here. Go DA! Get SA back to where it needs to be!
Anonymous, wrote
As they say: In with the black out with the white. Watch this space...
da dude, wrote
Well done Lindiwe - many people know you won this on your own credit, integrity and experience. May you take the DA, and by extension, SA, forward on an interesting and successful path. You've earned this.
Oh boy!, wrote
What is wrong with most of you? Give the lady a chance! You change a perty from within not from the outside. She will do wonders for the party and SA! Educated, intelligent, well-spoken and definitely the present! ANC and their supporters already running scared. Their old-guard is going nowhere and as for the youth, the least said the better!!!
Cecile-Ann, wrote
The DA will never get my vote no matter what colour they turn.
aNON el politico, wrote
the giant leap forward in DA politics, the vision born in early 90's is beginning to bear fruit! anc doinks may describe mazibuko anyway they like, the fact is the anc is in for a very difficult time as more and more like minded people of all colours start comming together but not under a nationalist banner!!!
TOKYO3991, wrote
Dear RACIST ANC commentators, wipe the overgrown Amazonian Forest out of your collective corrupt, fraudulent, thieving eyes before you attempt to remove the splinter from the DA's. I hear your fear, and it heartens me. Lindiwe Mazibuki is a talented, extremely capable, high profile, eloquent thorn in the ANC's immoral flesh. The winds of change are blowing, Lindiwe was elected as DA Parliamentary Leader transparently. She and her team, together with Godzilla and Patricia, will carve enormous chunks out of the ruling party's once-loyal-but-now-restless-and-disillusioned support base. Moreover, Mazibuko is an educated ADULT, unlike the 30yr old snake-eyed CHILD called Malema. The ANC has lied to the electorate for 17 years, lined its pockets with gold and turned its back on the very people it now openly steals from. Power corrupts, the ANC is a prime example of unfettered arrogance. The DA is strong, resolute. The ANC is comically falling apart, you will not dissolve the DA’s resolve to bring democracy back to our beautiful country. The more you comment, the more I laugh in your face.. DA “the party for everyone” FOREVER, GO LINDIWE!
Anonymous, wrote
United we Stand. she is a puppet of the white party??? And you, yes you! a puppet of a Black Power Party, a real "wood work shop"
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