DA rejects BEE without offering alternative

THE cracks have started to show within the DA over the party’s move to dump black economic empowerment (BEE), with some black party leaders criticising the decision taken at the party’s two-day federal council last month.

Party federal council chairperson James Selfe and party policy head Gwen Ngwenya this week released a statement stating: “We reject the ANC’s narrow-based BBBEE (broad-based black economic empowerment).

“The ANC’s model of BEE is not the only way to conceive of an inclusive economic offer. We will offer our own, alternative model of real, broad-based empowerment,” read the statement.

Portia Adams, spokesperson for DA leader Mmusi Maimane, said Maimane had nothing more to say as he supported the views expressed in the statement.

A source who was at the meeting said there was “a serious war of words over whether BEE should stay or be rejected”.

Another senior leader in the province expressed disappointment at the federal council’s decision.

“We, as a liberal party, understand apartheid circumstances that were imposed on black people and it is fundamental to redress the past. BEE’s intention was to advance redress by bringing black people into economic space.

“You cannot do away with an initiative that seeks to advance the course of redress. It was uncalled for that members of the federal council emerge from a meeting with this decision,” said the leader.

They said members who were opposed to the scrapping of BEE were silenced by those who favoured the move.

Weighing in on the matter, former DA leader Tony Leon welcomed the move, but cautioned its leaders to unite behind the decision to avoid confusing voters ahead of next year’s general elections.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said the DA was trying to protect white privilege by scrapping BEE.

“We have long exposed the DA as a party committed to defending white privilege and preserving the status quo.

“BBBEE is part of the struggle to transform our economy to enable it to serve the needs and aspirations of all South Africans,” said Mabe.

Political analyst Professor Somadoda Fikeni said the DA was risking losing black support by dumping BEE without first coming up with a better alternative policy to advance their needs.

“It is dangerous for them no matter what explanation they may provide. They are known to have opposed many policies aimed at benefiting the black community.”