Max remains silent on DA congress dispute

DISGRUNTLED Cape Town DA politician Lennit Max has decided to remain mum on his dispute with the party’s provincial elective congress following his defeat in a fiercely contested leadership race.

Max gave party leaders until yesterday to provide him with answers relating to what he believed were discrepancies in the voting results.

Although some of the documents were given to him, the possibility of an application to the Western Cape High Court to seek an annulment of the congress held on Saturday and the voting results, which among others declared Bonginkosi Madikizela as the new provincial leader for the Western Cape, has not been ruled out.

Madikizela is the MEC for Human Settlements.

In a message to the Cape Argus, Max said: I was approached for comment as one of the candidates for provincial leader who lost during congress. I gave my views and indicated that I am not accepting the outcome, and instituted a process with my party. Hence I will not drive the process through the media. Don’t expect any further comments from me.

“You are requested to approach the DA communication officer for any further developments.”

At the congress it was announced that 84% of the eligible voters of 1 175 had turned up to vote. This translates into 987 eligible voters. Max agrees with this figure.

However, Annelie Lotriet, presiding officer at the congress, said 992 delegates were registered to vote on the day.

“There were 43 special votes and 13 spoilt ballots,” Lotriet said. She said Madikizela got 510 votes and Max 494. A second set of results was circulating, with the DA claiming that Max got only 493 votes, that there were 1 035 ballots and that 1 017 votes were cast.

However, earlier this week when contacted, Lotriet appeared to have stumbled over her words when confronted by the contradictions with the quorum.

James Selfe, chairperson of the DA’s federal executive, said Max’s letter to Lotriet was sent to him.

“I am in the process of assembling the information he has requested. I trust that this information will address his concerns. Dr Lotriet has also responded to him. I expect to be able to respond to him today. I also expect that the matter will be resolved internally,” he said.

He would not be drawn on Max’s intention to head to court and the impact it could have on the party, saying “the question is academic at this stage”.