DA Gauteng leader post to be contested

Johannesburg - John Moodey's position as DA Gauteng leader will be contested at the party's provincial conference in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Moodey, who has been Gauteng leader since 2012, will be opposed by MPL Refiloe Ntsekhe.

"I'm going to this conference very confident that I will be retaining this position," Moodey told Sapa on Friday.

"I think the reason for that is my track record. I'm seasoned, tried and tested, and I brought the DA in Gauteng through a very successful 2014 election," he said.

Ntsekhe was elected to the provincial legislature this year after serving as a ward councillor in Ekurhuleni.

MPL and chairperson of the DA Gauteng North region, Solly Msimanga, is the only candidate standing for provincial chairperson.

Four people are standing for the position of deputy provincial chair. They are MPL Michele Clarke, Tshwane Ward Councillor Hannes Coetzee, Johannesburg Ward Councillor Vasco da Gama, and MPL Shelley Loe.

The theme of this year's congress is "ready to serve".

The DA says it is confident ahead of the 2016 local government elections where "a number of municipalities have become winnable following our growth at the expense of the ANC in 2014".

The one-day congress will be held in Boksburg on the East Rand.

Party leader Helen Zille is expected to address delegates.