Democratic Alliance (DA) Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip, nominated as the party’s mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay, says he is not interested in contesting Helen Zille’s party leadership seat.
But Trollip says he wants a party leader who embodies non-racialism and who adopts Nelson Mandela’s conciliatory vision of a rainbow nation.
DA MP Nosimo Balindlela, the former ANC premier of the province, said she preferred “a young blood” to take over from Zille, and promised “to play a supportive role” to anyone chosen.
Yesterday, Trollip and Balindlela said they would only make a pronouncement on their choices once the party’s nomination process closes on April 24.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Trollip revealed he had been nominated yesterday as the party’s mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro when the country hosts local government elections next year.
He said Zille’s decision not to avail herself for re-election next month had “reinforced” his initial decision to stand for the position of the party’s federal executive chairperson.
“I now want to be there during this transition period that has been fast-tracked by her decision not to avail herself for re-election,” said Trollip.
He said he was not interested in standing for the position of leader in the party. “ I will be supporting and campaigning for a candidate that will offer us an embodiment of non-racialism.
“I will support the right candidate for the job and not a specific colour. I will support any candidate I believe will promote the agenda of non-racialism and continue the process of rainbow reconciliation that Nelson Mandela talked about and which we have lost as a country.”
Trollip said he would make known his preference only when the nomination process was completed and he had seen who had raised their hands to take over from Zille, after the party’s May 9 elective conference in Port Elizabeth.
Contacted yesterday, Balindlela, the former ANC premier of the province, was equally cagey on her choice, and preferred to play her cards close to her chest.
She said it was a good thing the party was pushing a democratic process “that allows anyone to raise their hand and say please consider me for the position of party leader”.
“I want this democratic process to take its course and the names to be presented before I can boldly say who I will support as party leader,” Balindlela said. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Trollip not up for DA’s top spot
But Trollip says he wants a party leader who embodies non-racialism and who adopts Nelson Mandela’s conciliatory vision of a rainbow nation.
DA MP Nosimo Balindlela, the former ANC premier of the province, said she preferred “a young blood” to take over from Zille, and promised “to play a supportive role” to anyone chosen.
Yesterday, Trollip and Balindlela said they would only make a pronouncement on their choices once the party’s nomination process closes on April 24.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Trollip revealed he had been nominated yesterday as the party’s mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro when the country hosts local government elections next year.
He said Zille’s decision not to avail herself for re-election next month had “reinforced” his initial decision to stand for the position of the party’s federal executive chairperson.
“I now want to be there during this transition period that has been fast-tracked by her decision not to avail herself for re-election,” said Trollip.
He said he was not interested in standing for the position of leader in the party. “ I will be supporting and campaigning for a candidate that will offer us an embodiment of non-racialism.
“I will support the right candidate for the job and not a specific colour. I will support any candidate I believe will promote the agenda of non-racialism and continue the process of rainbow reconciliation that Nelson Mandela talked about and which we have lost as a country.”
Trollip said he would make known his preference only when the nomination process was completed and he had seen who had raised their hands to take over from Zille, after the party’s May 9 elective conference in Port Elizabeth.
Contacted yesterday, Balindlela, the former ANC premier of the province, was equally cagey on her choice, and preferred to play her cards close to her chest.
She said it was a good thing the party was pushing a democratic process “that allows anyone to raise their hand and say please consider me for the position of party leader”.
“I want this democratic process to take its course and the names to be presented before I can boldly say who I will support as party leader,” Balindlela said. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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