The first day of the virtual conference involved the discussion, adoption and voting on draft values and principles of the party.

The meeting follows the resignations of the party's key black leaders in Gauteng, and growing frustration among members about race and influence.

The debate is about former leader Mmusi Maimane's legacy of introducing race-based redress to the party and trying to make it an official policy. 

The party tweeted its position adopted on the subject of diversity, "when embraced, diversity acts as a potential bulwark against discrimination, uniformity of thought and closed thinking."

The DA's head of policy says disadvantage can be more clearly defined, than by race.  

DA policy head Gwen Ngwenya said, "I don't want to leave it at saying, okay you're black. I need to know more about your situation. That's where those other indicators of disadvantage are so important because it can tell us, okay, many people suffer from malnutrition. So many children end up being stunted, before the age of 5. So we need to address stunting in particular."

She said the party will also table its alternative to government's controversial triple BEE policy.  

eNCA