Leadership dogfight breaks out

DA CONTEST: VYING FOR TOP POST

Wilmot James accused of causing a political ‘plane crash’.

The public spat between DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane and federal chairperson Wilmot James turned uglier yesterday, just two days before the party’s national congress.

James will take on Maimane for the party’s leadership position at the party’s congress this weekend.

The war of words began after James on Tuesday reportedly said Maimane was “offering another version of the ANC”.

Maimane’s campaign manager Geordin Hill-Lewis responded with a scathing attack on James, saying his claim to be a “liberal stalwart” rang hollow.

Hill-Lewis unpacked what he called James’ own record on offering an alternative to the ANC.

“In 2010, one year into his first term as a DA MP, James told an interviewer he would vote for the ANC if Trevor Manuel were its president,” said Hill-Lewis. “If it wasn’t for the ANC’s insistence on having an African person as a leader, he would be president.”

He said James had an interesting history of political involvement.

“In this campaign, James has made much of the need for us to differentiate ourselves from the ANC,” said Hill-Lewis.

“So it is unclear why, as the DA’s federal chairperson and policy convenor, James supported the Employment Equity Amendment Bill in 2013. This resulted in an embarrassing U-turn for the then parliamentary leadership.”

He said it was described at the time by outgoing DA leader Helen Zille as a “plane crash”.

Hill-Lewis added James’s position on race-based redress had always been shaky. “In fact, his fl ipflop on the issue has been nothing short of spectacular,” he said.

James hit back: “I strongly believe the DA needs a new direction and must be an alternative to the ANC.

“If Mmusi Maimane has something to say about this issue, then he should have the courage to say it himself, rather than hiding behind a proxy.”