Note to Editors: The following speeches were delivered during the DA’s Federal Congress 2026 by DA Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen, and Chairperson of the Federal Council, Helen Zille, on 11 April 2026.
John Steenhuisen – That a party once consigned to irrelevance and ridicule now shapes the destiny of South Africa, is the legacy I leave behind for the Democratic Alliance
“For me, it is Mission Accomplished.
I hand over the baton of leadership with immense pride and complete confidence.
The DA is stronger, larger, more relevant, and more influential than at any point in its history.”
Helen Zille – The historic place of the Blue Machine in South Africa
“We have built one of the largest, proudest and most resilient liberal movements in the world. And we did it in one of the most hostile environments to liberal politics imaginable.
We are on course to become the largest party in South Africa’s metros. And from there, we move to the next milestone: becoming the largest party in the country.
How did we do it? Because we learnt some hard lessons on our journey that made us stronger.
We must never compromise on our core values.”