The Democratic Party (DP) was the name of the South African political party now called the Democratic Alliance (DA). Although the Democratic Party name dates from 1989 the party existed under other labels throughout the Apartheid years when it was the Parliamentary opposition to the ruling National Party’s policies.From 1989 to 1994 the party had three co-leaders Zach de Beer Denis Worrall and Wynand Malan and won 34 seats in the 1989 election up from 20 before the vote.