DA members protest leadership
Sandi Kwon Hoo IN AN OPEN revolt yesterday, DA members called for the provincial leadership to step down, while the party’s federal council chairperson and provincial members were holding a meeting at the Horseshoe Motel in Kimberley.
The members, wearing DA T-shirts, carried placards calling for DA provincial leader Andrew Louw and DA provincial chairperson Harold McGluwa to resign.
They stated that the DA provincial congress, which was supposed to convene in September, would have to be postponed until next year, due to a range of issues that needed to be resolved before the new leadership could be elected.
Louw and MPL Safiyia Stanfley are said to be contesting for the leadership position in the Province.
The protesting DA members complained about “dictatorship-style leadership, bullying tactics and intimidation”.
“While the DA is vocal against the wrongdoings of the ANC, they have failed to address internal party issues and are worse than the ANC. If we dare to speak out then we are removed,” said the protesters.
“We are not afraid of standing up for the truth. If they discipline us for being vocal about exposing the rot in the party, so be it.”
Complaints lodged with the federal council for investigation included the alleged mistreatment of staff and the manipulation of the 2016 candidates list for the local government elections.
Members also reported allegations of nepotism, where family members and friends were apparently employed in the party, and the poor treatment of women in office.
The chairperson of the DA Federal Council, James Selfe, stated that the provincial council had met in Kimberley yesterday.
“One of the matters discussed was the provincial congress that will take place in mid-February 2018,” said Selfe.
He added that a number of allegations were made against the provincial leadership in 2016 and these were all referred to the Federal Legal Commission.
“Two complaints were dismissed due to a lack of evidence. The disciplinary hearing in relation to the third matter is taking Leader of the DA in the Northern Cape Andrew Louw.
place next week.”
Selfe cast doubt over whether the people who had picketed outside the provincial council yesterday were in fact members of the party.
“I interviewed two people, who alleged that they had been given a T-shirt and R20 to participate in the picket. Thus the genuine nature of the picket is questionable.
“I nonetheless addressed the picket and met one of their leaders, who raised some issues about the candidate selection process, which I promised to look into.”
Selfe emphatically denied rumours that the DA in the Province had been placed under administration.
This is despite a report that indicated that the federal executive was “strongly advised” to consider placing the membership administration, branch formation and re-constitution of the DA in the Province, as well as the delegation to the provincial congress of the party, under full control of the federal executive, to preserve the “integrity of the upcoming congress”.
The report stated that Louw and McGluwa’s “style of leadership is devoid of pleasantries” and that this leadership style could be interpreted as “aloof and/or rude, confrontational and abrasive”.
It highlighted the “fatal” divisions in the party based on the support or opposition to the leadership of Louw and McGluwa.
It also noted concerns raised that the 2017 provincial congress could be subject to the same manipulation that allegedly took place DA provincial chairperson Harold McGluwa
in the run-up to the local government elections.
The report pointed to complaints that at least eight close family members of Louw and McGluwa were employed in the party as well as the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
“There is a possibility that the complaints, which formed the topic of this investigation, were lodged as part of the campaign of those who oppose the leadership of Louw and McGluwa in order to embarrass them in the run-up to the provincial congress of 2017.”
Louw stated that it could be expected that allegations would surface in an attempt to derail the leadership ahead of the provincial congress.
“If people are uncomfortable about me introducing new talent to the party, then I am prepared to take the backlash,” said Louw.
He stated that he would support whoever was elected into the leadership position.
“I am not corrupt, I do not steal and have a proven track record. There is no evidence to prove any nepotism. The only relative I have that is employed in the party has been working there for the past six years.”
Louw added that the media was welcome to interview all women employed in his office.
“They will tell you that I receive accolades from time to time. If I was guilty of bullying tactics, I would not be happily married for the past 21 years. These are all fabricated lies that were orchestrated to discredit me.”