Dr Corné Mulder wins unopposed

On the evening of Saturday the 22nd of February, the belated but fortuitously timed national leadership elections for the VF+ have concluded, with Dr Corné Mulder, the longest-serving MP in South Africa’s parliamentary history, being named the leader of the party.

Widely regarded as patient, restrained and even coy with public commentary, but a principled and even radical in his policy preferences, Dr Mulder was elected unopposed.

Pieter Greonewald gave a heartfelt concession speech, and has declared that he will continue on in his capacity as Minister of Correctional Services for the time being, but felt it was time to step aside. Having had a long and successful career in the party, and having served as a popular and firm-handed head of his cabinet position, he will be able to retire with a sense of pride.

Dr Mulder has said he will be taking the party in a new direction, and won’t be kowtowing to the ANC or the DA, but will strengthen the party and its members’ capacity to stand on conscience in matters of governance both local and national.

He also remarked that the party will examine their position in the GNU, but a final decision has not been taken, as many factors must be considered, and the party will have to proceed on the basis of consensus and certainty.

Dr Mulder supported Wynand Boshof for deputy party chairman, but Michael Groenewald won the post, while Tammy Breedt maintained her place as foreign affairs representative.

Jaco Mulder made it in as Chair of Gauteng just a couple of days ago, squeezing in the provincial board reorganisation just in time for the nationals, and it is regarded as a foregone conclusion that Grant Marais will succeed Dr Mulder as leader of the Western Cape branch.

Marais is regarded as sharing his father’s staunch support for Cape independence, and with Mulder as national leader, the strategy to push for secession will likely take a prominent position in the coming years.

Wouter Wessels maintains the chair, and with his reputation for shrewd and effective organisation, will likely keep the party on an even keel, ready to take advantage of the relative weakness of the DA’s public position in the GNU in the lead-up to the local elections, which are rumoured to be planned for early 2027.

Insiders regard this outcome as a balanced and unified arrangement, with Mulder’s more ambitious and radical Southerners sharing power with the more conciliatory and centrist Northern branches which have been predominant under Groenewald’s leadership.