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As lobbying for the DA\u2019s national leadership elective conference begins, one of the party’s senior leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Dean Macpherson, has indicated his availability for the influential chairperson of the Federal Council position.<\/span><\/p>\n The position, which is equivalent to the secretary-general\u2019s, is currently occupied by Helen Zille, who was recently appointed as the Johannesburg mayoral candidate for next year\u2019s local government elections.<\/span><\/p>\n The Federal Council chairperson\u2019s position is permanent – meaning that should Zille take up the Johannesburg mayoral position, she would have to vacate it; however, a party source said Zille might make herself available for re-election since the local government elections are likely to take place after the party\u2019s elective conference. <\/span><\/p>\n The source said that since there is no guarantee that she will become the mayor of Johannesburg, no one will prevent her from contesting any position she wants in the party.<\/span><\/p>\n Macpherson, who is currently the provincial chairperson (equivalent to the provincial secretary position), is said to be favoured by the Federal leader John Steenhuisen. Both leaders are from Durban North. <\/span><\/p>\n Asked about his availability, Macpherson, who is also Public Works and Infrastructure Minister in the ANC-led Government of National Unity, said he would consider making himself available if nominated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate and am honoured that people would consider my name for the position. As nominations have not opened, I have not considered this yet, but I will do so and consult with colleagues on this matter when the time is right. As I have always done, I will be guided by the membership of the party in how best I can serve the DA,\u201d said Macpherson.<\/span><\/p>\n He is credited with the current smooth relationship between the DA and the IFP in the province.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2023, both leaders signed a service delivery pact where the DA assured the IFP of its support in all hung municipalities in the province. The pact resulted in the DA getting a deputy mayorship in the Umhlathuze Local Municipality in Richards Bay. <\/span><\/p>\n Both IFP and the DA are also working hand in hand in the provincial government Cabinet under IFP\u2019s Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.<\/span><\/p>\n willem.phungula@inl.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As lobbying for the DA\u2019s national leadership elective conference begins, one of the party’s senior leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Dean Macpherson, has indicated his availability for the influential chairperson of the Federal Council position. The position, which is equivalent to the secretary-general\u2019s, is currently occupied by Helen Zille, who was recently appointed as the Johannesburg mayoral […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":252190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[11870,7132,12782,16917,13972,6971,16516,186,16475],"class_list":["post-252189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-chairperson","tag-council","tag-da039s","tag-dean","tag-federal","tag-interest","tag-macpherson","tag-role","tag-signals"],"yoast_head":"\n