DA’s internal strife rages on

Objections to party leaders’ input

THE DA is again heading for an internal battle, this time over a proposal to tweak the rules of the party’s selection process for candidates for elected office in a manner that would give more power to provincial leaders.

As the official opposition party heads to the quarterly meeting of its federal council meeting at the weekend, senior party figures have drafted a formal objection to the proposal put forward by federal executive chairperson James Selfe to allow provincial leaders or candidates for that position to sit in on the DA’s selection panel deliberations.

Currently, they only get an opportunity to address the selection panels before the deliberations begin, in terms of a clause which reads: “Such leader( s) and/ or candidate may, on this occasion, specify his perspective on the requirements of the caucus as far as racial and gender diversification, expertise and geographic spread is concerned.”

The letter, which was signed by 34 high-ranking DA members, contends that allowing provincial leaders to be present for the actual decision-making would make them all-powerful in the selection process and engender factionalism.

“Provincial leaders already have significant influence in the red-flagging of candidates, in nominating members of the selection panel, in being members of electoral colleges, in editing the final lists, in addressing the selection panels, and as candidates whose election in the number one slot is guaranteed,” wrote the group of “concerned delegates” to the conference. The group includes DA chief whip John Steenhuisen.

“The addition of the very significant influence and power attached to being a de facto full member of the selection panel would make the provincial leader omnipotent in the candidate selection process, with scope for abuse.

“We contend that the amendment, as proposed, would make the provincial leaders players, coach, referee, captain and selector all simultaneously!”

Also among the signatories are MP Natasha Mazzone, the deputy chairperson of the DA’s federal council, Ivan Meyer, the party’s deputy federal chairperson, Mike Waters, deputy chief whip, and the leaders of the Western Cape and North West, Bonginkosi Madikizela and Joe McGluwa.

The group noted that the rules expressly forbade the nomination of premiers to the selection panels.

“They are all ( presumably) aspirant candidates to the national Parliament or a provincial legislature. They have a demonstrable interest in the outcome of the selection process (both as aspirant candidates and as prospective caucus leaders).

“Their membership of these selection panels would give rise to conflicts of interest.”

One of the signatories told ANA that objections were so strong that it had become a “red line issue” in the DA, with those opposed saying it would turn provincial leaders into “godfathers”, who could pick candidates who would owe them political favours.

Others said they feared their objections would be cast as “white people” trying to rein in black colleagues in leadership positions.

Steenhuisen said the anticipated criticism was unfounded, as those who signed the letter were trying to protect transparency in the DA.

“I hope this particular proposal is defeated and that we have a process that guarantees that internal democracy is protected and not one that lends itself to factionalism.”

Selfe was not immediately available for comment. He has found himself weakened by the party’s failed attempt to dislodge Cape Town’s firebrand mayor, Patricia de Lille, from her position.

De Lille took the DA to court and won after it used a contentious new clause in its constitution to tear up her DA membership after a year of open warfare with the party.

A well-placed source said he bore responsibility for the handling of the De Lille matter and senior delegates saw the proposed amendment as an attempt to shore up support from provincial leaders, who have been pushing for some time for more input in the candidate selection process.

The DA’s federal council meeting in April saw delegates square up over a proposal from party leader Mmusi Maimane to amend the party’s constitution to state it would seek to replicate the country’s diversity in its own ranks.

After opposition from delegates who argued that it would shoehorn the party into quotas, an amendment adopted that committed the party to advancing diversity instead. – African News Agency (ANA)

of interest’