The DA’s weekend grilling of candidates for MP posts in the National Assembly and their MPL counterparts in the Bhisho legislature has even had some asking for prayers.
The interviews, held in Port Elizabeth, were part of the party’s preparations for the 2019 elections, which are expected to be the most hotly contested elections in the democratic era.
The interviews began on Friday and were completed on Sunday. The final list is not expected until early in 2019.
DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga on Sunday confirmed that the selection panel interviewed about 45 potential candidates in total for both levels.
“The provincial executive has selected a variety of individuals, including business people, youths, public representatives and some leaders in the DA. There are five people on the selection panel,” he said.
He said the DA was looking for all-rounders and that the party was keen to diversify its list to parliament.
He said the provincial list should be finalised in January and the national one between February and March.
One of the candidates who was interviewed on Sunday, is DA leader in the provincial legislature Bobby Stevenson.
Before his interview on Sunday morning, Stevenson sent out a WhatsApp message to his friends asking for prayers.
“Please remember to pray for me at 9am as I go before the DA selection panel for 2019 election. This determines my job going forward. I know that this is what God has called me to do and I pray that I will continue to be used by him in the field,” his message reads...