DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone demoted, replaced by Gwarube

THE DA has demoted its chief whip in the National Assembly, Natasha Mazzone, and replaced her with her deputy, Siviwe Gwarube.

Gwarube, who became an MP in 2019, was health shadow minister until February this year.

She was announced as the party's national spokesperson in November 2020. Gwarube was elected as the deputy chief whip in the mid-term caucus election in December 2021, taking over from Jacques Julius.

In her current position, Gwarube takes over from Mazzone, who will now represent the party in the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

In a statement on Thursday, DA leader John Steenhuisen said Mazzone would focus on overhauling the oversight model of the state security apparatus.

“Honourable Mazzone will also serve as the national security advisor to the leader of the opposition,” Steenhuisen said.

He also said that Noko Masipa was now the party's new shadow minister for agriculture, land reform and rural development.

Masipa takes over from former MP

Annette Steyn, who recently resigned from Parliament.

Dianne Kohler-Barnard is the DA's new shadow minister for communications. Marina Van Zyl, the party's newest MP, is the additional member on the portfolio committee on basic education.

DA MP Solly Malatsi will reprise his role of national spokesperson alongside his colleague Cilliers Brink.

“The DA would like to wish our colleagues well in their new positions,” Steenhuisen said. The announcement follows the exodus of black DA members after the election of Helen Zille as federal chairperson.

They include former DA Leader Mmusi Maimane, former Johannesburg Mayor and current ActionSA president Herman Mashaba and Free State leader Patricia Kopane among others.