The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Parliament, Sandra Botha, will retire after the general elections this year, she said on Wednesday.
”I hereby confirm that I will not be making myself available for re-election in 2009, until which time I will continue to serve as parliamentary leader for the Democratic Alliance,” Botha said in a statement.
”I have made the decision to retire after the next election in order to pursue opportunities outside party politics, of which I will provide more detailed information as soon as my plans have reached greater finality.”
She said she would not join another political party.
”My full commitment rests with the DA and ensuring that we achieve every possible success in the next election, after which I intend remaining a loyal member of the party.”
In an interview with Beeld, Botha denied that her decision was linked to reports of infighting within the official opposition party.
”Anyone who thinks that I would leave the DA for any other party, clearly does not know me very well,” Botha told the Afrikaans daily.
DA leader Helen Zille said she was aware of Botha’s plans to retire from politics alongside her husband, DA MP Andries Botha, who is a former DA leader of the Free State.
”I would have preferred her to stay on as party leader in Parliament but I do not want to stand in her way to fulfil her other ideals in life,” said Zille. — Sapa