Conditions to Kohler Barnard return
Although she will keep her position until the end of the fifth Parliament, her conditions include:
She is not found guilty of any transgressions during that period.
She must attend a presentation on the safe use of social media and pay a fine.
She has to resign from all elected positions in the party, except that of MP, and cannot stand for re-election to those positions during the period under review.
Some say Kohler Barnard deserves extreme censure and, as a politician, should not put herself or her party at risk.
Others believe her energy and fighting spirit are critical to democracy and she will come back to play a central role in opposition politics.
DA party spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme played down concerns that Kohler Barnard’s expulsion would result in a significant loss of support.
“With all decisions there will be people who agree and those who don’t. Since our congress, South Africans have joined the ‘blue wave’ in their numbers. Our party is the only party that has grown since 1994, and will continue to grow,” said Van Damme.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane defended the federal executive’s decision to terminate her membership of the DA. He told Eye Witness News that Kohler Barnard had violated the party’s “very strong” social media policy.
“If there is a post that stands out and says that an apartheid dictator effectively must come back [ from the dead] and one of our public reps supports that view or reposts it, it’s offensive – not only to black South Africans, but to white South Africans.”
Political analyst Daniel Silke said Kohler Barnard’s actions were badly timed as they came at a time when the new party leader was trying to exert his influence by dispelling allegations that the DA harboured affection for the past.
However, Silke said, it could be argued that the party had erred in the way it handled the matter. “The party seems to have failed to take into account her views on this matter and her track record in opposing apartheid. They demoted her in Parliament and one might feel that was enough.”
Within the party, however, many were clearly uncomfortable with the decision which some labelled “draconian”.
The ANC chief whip’s spokesman, Moloto Mothapo, said Kohler Barnard should go.
“If the DA is serious about ridding itself of its public reputation as a refuge for racists and white supremacists who still long for the return of apartheid rule, it must not merely distance itself from its senior MP’s conduct but expel her from the party and Parliament.”
Known for her feisty comebacks – including a censured Fword – Kohler Barnard will be sure to take on her adversaries. But for the moment it is strictly “no comment”.