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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| SA opposition elects new leader | SA opposition elects new leader |
| (1 day later) | |
| South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has elected Helen Zille - the mayor of Cape Town - as its new leader. | South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has elected Helen Zille - the mayor of Cape Town - as its new leader. |
| She will succeed Tony Leon who is stepping down after 13 years. | She will succeed Tony Leon who is stepping down after 13 years. |
| The biggest challenge facing the Democratic Alliance is to attract more black support. | The biggest challenge facing the Democratic Alliance is to attract more black support. |
| Helen Zille had been the favourite in this party leadership contest, with strong political credentials and a high-profile position as mayor. | Helen Zille had been the favourite in this party leadership contest, with strong political credentials and a high-profile position as mayor. |
| She was both a journalist and an activist during the struggle against apartheid. | She was both a journalist and an activist during the struggle against apartheid. |
| In more recent years, as a Democratic Alliance MP, she worked in Khayelitsha, one of the most impoverished areas of Cape Town. | In more recent years, as a Democratic Alliance MP, she worked in Khayelitsha, one of the most impoverished areas of Cape Town. |
| Since becoming mayor of the city last year, Helen Zille has had fierce political tussles with South Africa's governing party - the African National Congress. | Since becoming mayor of the city last year, Helen Zille has had fierce political tussles with South Africa's governing party - the African National Congress. |
| But she is determined to remain as Cape Town's mayor, while at the same time, leading the Democratic Alliance (DA). | |
| The DA has grown in size since the 1990s, but although it is the largest opposition party, it still only holds 12% of the seats in the National Assembly. | The DA has grown in size since the 1990s, but although it is the largest opposition party, it still only holds 12% of the seats in the National Assembly. |
| The DA has long been criticised for being too white and middle class. | The DA has long been criticised for being too white and middle class. |
| One of Helen Zille's priorities will be to draw in more black voters and break the concentration of power that lies with the ANC. | One of Helen Zille's priorities will be to draw in more black voters and break the concentration of power that lies with the ANC. |