By Thapelo Molefe
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has officially launched her bid for the position of Deputy Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (DA) ahead of the party’s federal elective congress in April.
Gwarube confirmed her candidacy on her social media platforms on Monday, ending weeks of speculation regarding her move into the party’s top federal structure.
“Yes it is true, I am running! Democrats, I am happy to announce that I have accepted the nomination for Deputy Federal Chairperson,” she wrote on her X account.
Gwarube framed her candidacy as a strategic necessity for the party’s national ambitions.
“The truth is simple: we need to be the largest party in South Africa in order to bring the change so desperately needed in our country,” she said.
Her campaign emphasises the need for a leadership core capable of organising and expanding support across every province and community.
Gwarube’s platform is built on the premise that internal electoral growth is the primary driver of national political change, asserting that “only a growing DA can deliver a growing SA.”
By specifically contesting the “number one” deputy spot, Gwarube is positioning herself as the most senior of the three deputy chairs typically elected, a role that serves as a critical bridge between the federal executive and grassroots structures.
The announcement comes as the DA prepares for its elective congress, taking place in April in Gauteng. The party is facing a significant leadership transition following the announcement that Federal Leader John Steenhuisen will not seek re-election earlier last month.
Gwarube has seen a rapid rise within the DA since entering Parliament in 2019.
She has served as national spokesperson, deputy chief whip, and chief whip before her 2024 appointment as Minister of Basic Education within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Her international profile was further elevated in 2025 when she was selected for the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders programme.
As a prominent figure in the party’s reformist wing, Gwarube’s entry adds further weight to a leadership race that includes Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who is running for Federal Leader, and Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, who is contesting the Federal Chairperson position.
The nominations window for leadership positions remains open until March 23, 2026. The results of the April congress are expected to define the leadership team that will steer the DA into the next general election cycle.
INSIDE EDUCATION
