Democratic Party (South Africa)

The Democratic Party of South Africa is a political party of South Africa. Although the name dates from 1989, the party existed under other labels throughout the Apartheid years, when it was the opposition to the ruling National Party. After the 1999 election, it became the main opposition to the African National Congress government.

It entered a short-lived alliance with the New National Party from 2000 to 2001 and merged with the Federal Alliance in 2002 to form the Democratic Alliance.

Prior to the adoption of the Democratic Party label, it was known variously as the Progressive Party, Progressive Reform Party, and Progressive Federal Party. As the party absorbed smaller antiapartheid groupings, as well as defectors from the United Party (the main opposition party in South Africa prior to 1977), its name variously changed.

Its current leader is Tony Leon.

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