‘Veteran’s stripes’ vs ‘kind and fair’
This weekend the Democratic Alliance will choose between two starkly different visions for its future
As expected, the supporters of DA interim leader John Steenhuisen and KwazuluNatal MPL Mbali Ntuli both believe their preferred candidates have the vision and leadership abilities to take the official opposition to new heights, even though Steenhuisen has been touted as a shoo-in for federal leader.
A dozen supporters whom the Mail & Guardian spoke to this week all expressed admiration for the leadership abilities of both candidates, who hail from Kwazulu-natal, with the decider being track record and the ability to connect with citizens.
The party starts its online federal congress on Saturday with results expected on Sunday afternoon.
Steenhuisen has run an on-theground campaign, travelling to meet delegates face-to-face across provinces, in some cases up to four times.
Ntuli’s campaign has mostly been run online and made available for public consumption, which is part of her stance on making internal mechanisms more transparent.
Internal polling conducted by
Steenhuisen’s campaign team has placed him firmly in the lead, with some provinces expected to vote 90 or 100% in his favour. Ntuli’s campaign team, however, has told the M&G that her support should not be underestimated.
Team Steenhuisen
The DA’S leader in Mpumalanga, Jane Sithole, who has been with the party for 22 years, told the M&G that the official opposition needed a “strong leader with a vision to stabilise the party”.
“John is the right person to lead the DA right now. He is able to regain the confidence of voters and lead us into 2021. After the turmoil the party has experienced, we need him. He has given me hope. He has a strong vision to fix the DA and the country.” Steenhuisen could communicate with people of all races and classes, she said, and he walks the leadership talk. He has “earned his stripes” she added.
Limpopo MPL Risham Maharaj said “95% of the province’s delegates are behind John”. “I have followed his career for a while. He has moved through the ranks. In my opinion, he has been the best whip in the his
tory of parliament.” Steenhuisen was not afraid to criticise the governing party, but also provided workable solutions and alternatives, he said. “He has an exceptional track record.”
Angel Khanyile, the party’s shadow minister of home affairs, said Steenhuisen was the clear demonstration to all South Africans that they do not have to follow leaders because of race.
Team Ntuli
Gauteng’s MPL Makashule Gana said Ntuli would bring “fresh ideas”
to the party and country if elected.
Although some of her ideas were already party policy, he said Ntuli has an ability to connect with people on the ground.
The growth of the DA in rural areas in Kwazulu-natal, once considered the exclusive domain of the IFP and ANC, has been attributed to Ntuli and the province’s party leader, Zwakele Mncwango, who has thrown his weight behind her.
“The campaigns from Ntuli and Steenhuisen have made it clear that both are great leaders. I had to make a choice though, and for where we are as a party, with so many challenges that are not unique to our party, we need someone strong, kind and fair [Ntuli’s campaign slogan].”
Those qualities are critical in a DA leader and a leader of society, he said.
MP Hlanganani Gumbi contends it is Mbali’s courage and principles that make her the right person for the job: “She can get people excited again about the party so that people who have never voted are going to vote. The country is in a really bad crisis, and if our party doesn’t secure a path to realigning politics in South Africa, we are all in deep trouble.”
Starting blocks
The DA had, until the 2019 national and provincial elections, experienced impressive growth in every local and national election since 1994.
An ill-fated decision in 2016 to form a loosely defined coalition with the EFF to co-govern the major Gauteng metros and large towns, creeping policy uncertainty about racial diversity, internal squabbles, Helen Zille’s social media posts, as well as the party’s approach to the ANC’S policy of black economic empowerment, led to well-publicised policy confusion and dissent. As a result the party lost nearly 2% of its overall voting share in the 2019 elections, forcing it to reassess its future.