DA pauses on changes to selection panels

Leaders warn of scope for abuse and patronage

The DA has shelved the discussion on the brewing battle over the powers of provincial leaders, after the party’s federal council resolved at the weekend to obtain legal advice.

The party was supposed to decide the extent of the influence of provincial leaders on the selection of candidates for government posts.

Ahead of the weekend’s federal council meeting, 34 senior DA leaders raised concerns about a proposed amendment to the party’s regulations on electing candidates.

This amendment would have seen provincial leaders become part of the selection panels choosing representatives for the nine legislatures. This is currently not allowed in the party’s rules.

Provincial leaders do, however, form part of, among others, electoral colleges, and can make a representation to the selection panels.

One of the arguments made in support of the leaders sitting on the selection panels was that they would play an oversight role which could, among others, be tied to the diversity clause adopted earlier this year at the DA’s congress.

The party has explained that diversity should be measured in terms of input, rather than output.

A senior leader in the party, however, said the argument was a “red herring,” and that the attempted amendment was about the consolidation of power.

The 34 leaders warned in an open letter sent to delegates on Friday that the amendment “would make the provincial leaders virtually omnipotent in the candidate selection process, with enormous scope for abuse and patronage”.

The signatories included only two provincial leaders: Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela, and North West leader Joe McGluwa.

A subcommittee was formed on Saturday to deal with the proposed amendment.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane yesterday said the subcommittee had recommended that the status quo remain in place while a legal opinion was sought “to guide its future deliberations”.

Maimane said until the process was concluded, provincial leaders would not serve on selection panels.

Limpopo leader Jacques Smalle and Eastern Cape leader Nqaba Bhanga were the only provincial leaders on the selection committees of their respective provinces.

Gauteng leader John Moodey said the bone of contention was whether a selection panel was seen as a committee in the DA’s constitution, as provincial leaders can serve as members of any committee in their province.

This is what the legal opinion would have to determine.