James Selfe Helen Zille The 2019 Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairpersonship election was held on 20 October 2019 to elect the new Chairperson of the South African Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA), after the incumbent James Selfe had announced his retirement in June 2019.

[4] In June 2019, James Selfe announced his retirement from the post of Chairperson of the Federal Council of the DA.

He served in the post for almost two decades under the leadership of Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane.

The leadership position is similar to that of the role of Secretary-General of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The party unsuccessfully tried to grow its vote share in the May 2019 national elections, only to be met with its first electoral decline in its history.