NATASHA MARRIAN: DA must be on front foot as sands shift

Opposition parties were jolted out of their Zuma-induced slumber in recent weeks, having to rapidly readapt to a changing political landscape. The election of Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president was followed quickly by a change in tone in the governing party. The shift became more palpable when, just a month-and-a-half into Ramaphosa’s term, former president Jacob Zuma was recalled by the ANC and resigned from office. The rapidity with which events unfolded left opposition parties reeling. The DA and EFF, in particular, appeared positively bewildered in those historic five days, beginning with the ANC national executive committee meeting and culminating in Ramaphosa’s maiden state of the nation address. Now, less than a month before its elective conference, the DA has to orientate itself to the changing political realities while dealing with serious, self-inflicted crises. The gathering is being billed as a "battle for the soul of the DA". That the party’s own research is painting a bl...