Francois Rodgers has confirmed that he will not stand for a third term as the Democratic Alliance’s leader in KwaZulu-Natal, bringing his tenure in the role to an end after two terms.
The 64-year-old said the decision was driven by a desire to open opportunities for younger leaders within the party as he approaches what he described as the latter stage of his political career.
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Rodgers made the announcement in an interview with EWN ahead of the DA’s provincial elective congress, scheduled to take place in 2026.
DA KwaZulu-Natal leadership transition ahead of 2026 congress
Rodgers’ political journey began at the local government level, where he served as a DA councillor in Kokstad, a small town in the southwest of KwaZulu-Natal.
He later advanced through the party’s structures, representing the DA in Parliament before being elected as the party’s provincial leader in 2021.
During his leadership, the DA achieved a significant milestone in KwaZulu-Natal by entering the provincial government for the first time.
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This followed the formation of a coalition with the African National Congress (ANC) and two other political parties, despite the DA and ANC being longstanding rivals.
“There is a time in one’s life where you need to look and create opportunities for younger people – new ideas, new talent, new vision – and I think that time has come for me. I still have business interests, and it’s a lot less stressful running your business than having the MK Party as an opposition.”
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Francois Rodgers to remain KZN finance MEC until 2029
While stepping aside from the provincial leadership race, Rodgers said he plans to continue serving in government. He confirmed that he intends to remain KwaZulu-Natal’s Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for finance until the end of his term in 2029.
His decision sets the stage for a leadership contest within the DA in KwaZulu-Natal as the party prepares for its 2026 elective congress and the next phase of its role in the provincial government.
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