How the cards stack up for Zille and Trollip
Party leaders to decide on best person for the job on Sunday
A man of the people, a good leader, bold and decisive, a seasoned politician, level-headed and the right person to help steer the DA into safer waters.
These are some of the words used to describe DA federal executive chair hopeful Athol Trollip by five provincial party leaders backing him for the position.
In contention for the top position, which will be vacated by James Selfe, are Trollip, former party leader Helen Zille, deputy chair Thomas Walters and deputy chief whip Mike Waters.
Selfe’s successor will be elected by “approximately” 155 delegates at the DA’s Nkululeko House headquarters in Johannesburg during the federal council on Sunday morning.
The federal executive council will also discuss the party’s report of the review panel following the DA’s poor showing at the May 8 polls.
DA provincial leaders in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo, and Northern Cape have thrown their weight behind Trollip, saying he is the right man for the job.
While there are no block votes, with delegates voting as individuals as opposed to voting for a candidate based on a province’s position, the backing of Eastern Cape leader Nqaba Bhanga, Zwakele Mncwango of KZN, Jacques Smalle of Limpopo, Free State provincial leader Patricia Kopane and Northern Cape boss Andrew Louw could tip the scales in Trollip’s favour.
This is because the delegates are likely to vote the same as their provincial leaders. While John Moodey, the Gauteng provincial leader, has not made up his mind about who he would vote for, he told the Daily Dispatch that Zille and Waters would not get his vote “because I don’t agree with their politics”.
Mpumalanga provincial leader Jane Sithole and her North West counterpart Joe McGluwa said their vote could still go to any of the four.
Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela could not be reached for comment and did not respond to messages sent to him.
Mncwango said he had been open about his endorsement of Trollip.
“We need someone who will be bold and decisive. The party at the moment is all over, you don’t know who is the spokesperson and people are contradicting each other.
“I believe under Trollip’s leadership we can reject the views of being divided on racial lines,” he said.
Smalle said Trollip had over the years proved himself as a capable leader.
He said Trollip’s experience in local, provincial, national government and DA leadership positions made him the ideal candidate to steer the DA ship to safer waters.
“And I think at this time we need a cool-headed leader who can take charge and action on issues.
“It’s not to say it’s going to be business as usual, but I think he’s got the discipline needed.”
Kopane, who will be part of eight Free State delegates, also believes Trollip is the person to “take the party forward”.
Bhanga said: “Trollip will win this thing. He’s a man of the people. He has a great track record. He’s decisive and appeals to all the diverse people in the DA.”
Louw agreed.
“Athol is a very level-headed and very seasoned person. He is the right person to steer the DA to safer waters, so to speak,” he said, adding that all six Northern Cape voting delegates shared this view.
Moodey said because he is not a candidate he did not campaign or try to convince any of the 44 Gauteng delegates.
“I will tell you who I’m not voting for but I’m not going to tell you who I am voting for.
“I won’t be voting for Mike Waters or Helen Zille. I don’t support their politics. I don’t believe they have anything to offer the party,” he said.
McGluwa and Sithole kept their cards close to their chests, saying they had not yet decided who to vote for.
In a statement, federal council elections presiding officer Desiree van der Walt said voting would begin at 7am and end at 8.45am.
Any disputes should be filed within 48 hours after the election results have been filed, she said.