Africa-Press – South-Africa. Democratic Alliance MP Natasha Mazzone, who is “national security advisor” to leader John Steenhuisen, has set her sights on rising to the upper echelons of the party.
Mazzone has announced that she will contest for the position of deputy chairperson at the DA’s elective congress to be held next month.
There are three deputy chairperson positions up for grabs.
She is set to go up against Cape Town councillor and long-standing DA member JP Smith, former Eastern Cape DA leader Nqaba Bhanga, and the party’s national spokesperson, Solly Malatsi.
Mazzone has previously represented the DA in the City of Tshwane, and joined the party’s parliamentary caucus in 2009.
“I have vast experience in various structures of government.
“I was the DA’s frontline fighter against state capture, I have served as chief whip, and I am now the shadow minister [spokesperson] of state security, and the national security advisor to the leader of the official opposition.
“I am now fighting to save South Africa from the grip of corruption and mismanagement,” she said.
In August, Mazzone was shifted from her position as party chief whip to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. She was also appointed national security advisor to Steenhuisen.
DA MP Siviwe Gwarube took over as chief whip of the party’s parliamentary caucus.
Mazzone says she wants to be part of the team that builds a new South Africa after the 2024 general election.
“I have guts and fight and I am ready to work as hard as I can to ensure that we see a new government coming into power in 2024. I am also looking forward to fighting against crime and a very broken state security system.
“I will ensure that DA public representatives and our activists are safe, that there are no ‘no-go areas’ in the country, and that we are allowed to enjoy free and fair elections in 2024,” she said.
Several other candidates are also expected to enter the fray, as nominations for all positions close on 15 March.
The three current deputy chairpersons – Ivan Meyer, Anton Bredell and Refiloe Nt’sekhe – are all believed to be running for re-election.
While Nt’sekhe and Meyer are yet to make formal announcements, Bredell has launched his campaign.
He is one of the DA’s longest-serving members and is a well-known figure in the Western Cape government, where he served under former premier Helen Zille.
Under the current premier, Alan Winde, he is the MEC for local government.
Nomination tallies from DA structures indicate that the incumbent party leader, Steenhuisen, will have the edge over his opponent, Mpho Phalatse.
Later this month, the names of candidates nominated for DA leadership positions will be announced, ahead of the April elective congress, which will be held in Midrand, Johannesburg.
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