SATURDAY PROFILE | Debbie Schäfer wants the DA 'to attract a more diverse leadership of calibre and quality'

Outgoing Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer believes the DA remains the best party for South Africa, but she says it will have to attract a diverse leadership. She speaks to James de Villiers about how her daughters "begged" her to leave politics, why it's difficult to be in government at the moment, and how she never planned on becoming a politician. 

Despite her surprise decision to step out of active politics after 20 years, outgoing Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer, 55, believes the Democratic Alliance is on the right track.

But, taking a long breath and choosing her words carefully, Schäfer does admit the party needs to attract a diversity of leaders.