DA only political organisation dedicated to representing all SA’s people

A story that appeared in The Herald on September 11, headlined “‘DA rent a black strategy blamed’ ”, very patronisingly says the DA “rents” its black leaders.

In the article Nomazima Nkosi puts together a number of uninformed and incorrect views by a number of analysts.

One of the vilest of these remarks comes from Mcebisi Ndletyana, who refers to black people as darkies, terminology the DA finds grossly unacceptable and racist.

Through his tunnel vision “analysis”, Ndletyana states that the DA has been unscrupulous in the way we recruit black leaders and that we pay no attention to merit or credibility.

Not only is this false, but it is very offensive to black leaders like myself.

The DA is the only political organisation that is committed to building an organisation and a country that is diverse and represents all South Africans. It is on this basis that we recruit and elect leaders in our party.

The fact is that the coalition government has proved to be a great success and what we have seen happen in the Nelson Mandela Bay council has got nothing to do with imagined “revolt” by black councillors in the party as Ndletyana suggests.

There is no black or white caucus in the DA, only a group of committed and diverse South Africans who have come together based on common principles and a desire to deliver quality services to the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Since we took office, 12,000 residents now receive water and have flush toilets in their homes for the first time, we established the city’s first metro police force to fight corruption and keep residents safe, and the city is now at its best ever financial position with a surplus of R2bn, which will be directed to roll out quality services.

When anyone decides to become a member of the DA, he or she must commit to the following values: a respect and adherence to the constitution and the rule of law, a commitment to fighting corruption, and a commitment to job creation and the delivery of basic services.

Certain councillors may have decided they no longer share these values, but they are in the minority.

Mlindi Nhanha, DA Eastern

Cape spokesman