Msimanga seen as serious challenger in race for DA party leadership

2026-02-09 - 07:36

While the watershed DA leadership race has not left the stalls yet, party pundits suggest it may be a three-horse sprint. Best odds, based on party sources, places Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis only slightly ahead of former Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga, who is ahead of uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas. However, some party insiders believe that if the DA is to survive as multiracial party substantial enough to challenge the ANC for outright dominance at the polls, then another white male – no matter how accomplished – will not send the right message to black voters. Zille the kingmaker Presently, it seems that there is a growing undercurrent of support for Msimanga, especially in Gauteng. On the outside track, Pappas has also been tipped as deputy to either a Msimanga or a Hill-Lewis win. And while Hill-Lewis may be the DA leadership candidate everyone’s betting on, Msimanga or Pappas could turn out to be the dark horse that pips past