The DA effectively affirmed its liberal roots at its national congress, which had been billed as a battle for the soul of the party. The re-election of Athol Trollip as federal chairman and Mike Waters as his deputy effectively confirms that the "old guard" or the "old, new guard" continues to control the party. Colouring the canvas of both the DA’s main electoral fight — between Trollip and Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga — and fights over policy and constitutional amendments was the wrangling over how far the party could shift from its liberal roots as it seeks to simultaneously grow its electoral base and become a home to those who do not necessarily subscribe to its ideological orientation. At the centre of the policy debate was a clause on diversity, which fuelled heated debate in the organisation ahead of the congress. The diversity clause was added to the DA’s constitution but was somewhat neutered by a further clause to the party principles section of its constitution, which st...
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