Rodgers bows out of DA KZN race to focus on business and governance

DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers is not seeking a third term in the upcoming provincial congress.

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Francois Rodgers,DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal,will not seek re-election,focusing on his role as MEC of Finance until his term ends.A leadership contest is under way between Sithembiso Ngema and Mzamo Billy,with nominations closing on 20 April and the congress scheduled for 9 May.Rodgers aims to return to Kokstad to manage his businesses and praised progress in uniting the DA in KwaZulu-Natal.KwaZulu-Natal DA leader Francois Rodgers wants to dedicate more time to his role as MEC of Finance,and – once his term in the provincial government of unity (PGU) ends – he will return to running his businesses in Kokstad.

In an interview with News24 on the sidelines of the DA federal congress,Rodgers confirmed that he would not be seeking re-election as provincial DA leader in the upcoming provincial congress.

News24 reported last week that Rodgers had told party leaders he would not contest a position in the provincial congress. His unavailability has opened up a contest between incumbent deputy Sithembiso Ngema and DA MP Mzamo Billy,both vying for the provincial leadership role.

Nominations for leadership roles will close on 20 April,with the provincial congress taking place in Durban on 9 May.

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Rodgers told News24 that juggling the two positions had been difficult,especially given fiscal constraints.

“I am finding that I can’t do both properly. So,you know,the young leaders need to step up and put their hands up. And for the remainder of this term,I will focus on fixing the finances in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

Rodgers,who is seen as a veteran of DA KwaZulu-Natal politics,was re-elected as DA leader at a provincial congress in 2023,along with Dean McPherson,who is seeking a third term as provincial chairperson.

READ | Inside DA KZN’s mouthwatering leadership contest,as Rodgers decides not to stand

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News24 understands that the other KwaZulu-Natal deputy speaker,Mmabatho Tembe,has been lobbied for one of the deputy chairperson roles,while MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure,Martin Meyer,has been punted for the deputy leader position.

Sakhile Mngandi,a DA MPL,announced this week that he was vying for the position of first provincial deputy chairperson.

‘Unity in the DA in KZN’

“Our province was really divided in those days,” he said.

He,however,said that he was proud that he was able to meet one of his ambitions and now leaves behind a province that “has never been more united”.

Rodgers said:

One of my other ambitions was to look at new markets of voters. Being a rural boy from Kokstad,I have done [extensive] political work,and I felt that we should be looking into rural voters and traditional leadership.

“I have built that whole base in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.”

Asked whether he was not worried that whoever comes in as provincial leader might want to make changes to the DA people in the provincial unity government,Rodgers said he served at the party’s behest.

“And,obviously,if there is any shifting done in the provincial legislature,there is a process; the new leader doesn’t have super-powers,it has to go through our structures. We will just see,” he said.

He also told News24 that he had no ambitions to ascend to the national politics of the DA,and that he was eager to return to his hometown of Kokstad to run his businesses.

“I would like to go back and relieve my wife,who has been running my businesses for me,and spend some time in my businesses. I enjoy that. And I will get involved in the community of Kokstand once again,” said Rodgers.