DA Joburg Mayoral Candidate

Helen began her career as a political correspondent for the Rand Daily Mail, notably exposing the truth behind Steve Biko’s death in police custody. In the 1980s, she became active in NGOs and advocacy groups like the Open Society Foundation and Black Sash, campaigning against repression and vigilantism in Cape Town.

 She joined the Democratic Party in the mid-1990s, helping to reformulate education policy and serving as a Technical Adviser at CODESA. Elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 1999, she served as Minister of Education until 2001, then became Leader of the Opposition in the provincial legislature. In 2004, she was elected to the National Parliament, serving on the Portfolio Committee on Education and as DA National Spokesperson.

 In 2006, Zille was elected Mayor of Cape Town and was named World Mayor in 2008. She became Leader of the Democratic Alliance in 2007, serving until 2015. Elected Premier of the Western Cape in 2009, she held the position for two terms until 2019. She was elected DA Federal Council Chairperson in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.

Justin joined Peregrine Capital in March 2013 and is a Portfolio Manager of all the Peregrine Capital Funds. He qualified as a CA (SA) in 2012, after completing his articles at Ernst and Young. Justin was nominated for the Dean’s list at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2006 and 2007.

David co-founded Peregrine Capital in 1998 and is a Portfolio Manager of all the Peregrine Capital Funds, while also being Executive Chairman of the business. David started his career at Liberty Asset Management, where he was Assistant General Manager, mainly involved in non-consumer industrial company research. David was appointed Sector Research Head for this area in 1998. David qualified as a CA (SA) in 1994, after completing his articles at KPMG Inc.

Jacques joined Peregrine Capital in 2007 and is a Portfolio Manager of all the Peregrine Capital Funds, while also being the Chief Executive Officer of the business. Jacques started his career at Old Mutual in 2006, where he worked in the Life Insurance Product Development team, and qualified as an Actuary. In 2005, as a student at Stellenbosch University, Jacques was awarded the Chancellor’s medal for being the top graduating student. He has represented South Africa at the International Mathematical Olympiad and International Olympiad in Informatics, winning Bronze medals at both events. Jacques is a member of the investment committee of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and is a CFA charterholder.

Alan joined Peregrine Capital in 2019 as a Distribution Manager and was promoted to Head of Distribution in June 2021. He is responsible for managing the distribution team. Alan began his investment career on the Investec Graduate Program in 2007 and spent 12 years with Investec Wealth & Investment, managing private client money for HNW individuals, advisers and trusts. He ran Investec Wealth & Investment’s equity & currency derivatives offerings and was a voting member of their Deal Forum Committee. He was a member of the JSE’s Retail Advisory Committee, as well as the JSE Currency Derivatives Committee. Alan is a CFA charterholder.

Bryan is a former South African rugby union player renowned for his exceptional speed and try-scoring ability. Educated at King Edward VII School and the University of Johannesburg, Habana began his senior international career with the national Sevens team in 2003/04 before making his Currie Cup debut for the Lions in 2004, earning the title of South Africa’s most promising player that year.

Habana played primarily as a wing and was a key figure in the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning South African squad, scoring eight tries to equal Jonah Lomu’s single-tournament record. Later that year, he was named the International Rugby Board (IRB) Player of the Year. Over his career, Habana scored 67 test tries in his 124 tests, placing him second on the all-time list, and equalled Lomu’s record of 15 World Cup tries by 2015.

Noted for his breathtaking pace and game intelligence, Habana also won accolades such as the 2005 South African Player of the Year and the 2007 Try of the Year. After retiring in 2018, he has taken on ambassadorial and media roles, while actively engaging in philanthropy through the Bryan Habana Foundation.

John is a celebrated former South African rugby union player and leader. Educated at Pretoria Boys High School, where he was head prefect and a standout player, Smit began his professional career with The Sharks in 1998. After a brief stint in France with Clermont, he returned to The Sharks, making 186 appearances before finishing his playing career with Saracens in the UK, retiring in 2013.

Smit made his South African national rugby team debut in 2000 at age 22 and was appointed captain by coach Jake White in 2004. Over a 12-year international career, he earned 111 caps, making him one of South Africa’s most-capped players. He also captained the team 83 times, the most by any international captain. Under his leadership, the South African national rugby team won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy, Tri Nations titles in 2004 and 2009, and a series victory against the British & Irish Lions in 2009.

Known for his resilience, Smit played a record 46 consecutive Test matches from 2003 to 2007. After retiring, he became CEO of The Sharks and in 2018 was elected to the South African Rugby Union board as the players’ representative. Off the field, he co-founded the Barneys Army Foundation to raise funds and provide support for several causes, including Bobbi Bear, an organisation aiding sexually abused children; the LIV Village, which cares for orphaned and vulnerable children; and the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, which assists rugby players who have suffered serious spinal injuries. Smit was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011 in recognition of his leadership and contribution to rugby.

Rudi Dicks is the Head of the Project Management Office in the Private Office of the President of South Africa, where he leads major strategic initiatives including Operation Vulindlela, the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, and the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, driving structural reforms to unlock investment, improve service delivery, and promote inclusive growth. His work spans regulatory and policy reform, infrastructure development, local government reform, and the stabilisation of key economic sectors such as energy, logistics, telecommunications, and water, with reforms that have expanded power generation, enabled embedded energy investment, and improved broadband access.

He played a critical role in maintaining economic continuity during COVID-19, responding to national crises such as the July 2021 unrest and port and rail disruptions, and shaping coordinated government interventions. Previously, he served as an Outcomes Facilitator at DPME, where he established the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System, and as Executive Director of NALEDI, with a long career in the labour movement. Rudi holds postgraduate qualifications in economics and finance, including an MSc from the University of London, and is widely recognised for his strategic leadership and public service, earning an international award for bureaucratic innovation in 2021.

Frans is an analyst who counsels corporations and government agencies on economic and political events. 

He runs the advisory firm Frans Cronje Private Clients (Pty) Ltd and chairs South Africa's Social Research Foundation, the advisory board of the BRE-DE-RE policy group in Germany, and the US-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom.

 He edits the recently launched South African newspaper The Common Sense.