Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance Athol Trollip released a statement on 6 September 2010, in which he named Smalle as the new Shadow Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture.

[2] In June 2012, Smalle unseated incumbent Provincial Leader Désirée van der Walt.

National Leader of the Democratic Alliance Helen Zille urged delegates not to vote on the basis of their race.

[3] In May 2014, Smalle returned to the Limpopo Provincial Legislature as leader of the Democratic Alliance caucus.

He currently sits on the committees on Agriculture, Public Accounts, Rules and Ethics, and Education in the provincial legislature.

Smalle won re-election to a second term as Provincial Leader of the Limpopo Democratic Alliance in February 2015.

[4][5] On 15 September 2018, National Democratic Alliance Leader Mmusi Maimane announced Smalle as the party's Limpopo Premier candidate for the 2019 election.

[10] Smalle was running for a fourth term as provincial leader against DA MP Solly Malatsi.