DA infighting gets dirty

Analysts are questioning the motive behind Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba’s accusation that ex-Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon tried to solicit a R300 million tender from him, as the feud within the party intensifies.

Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s explosive revelations that former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon tried to solicit a R300 million tender from him “is part of the bigger DA’s raging internal feud”, with Leon questioning Mashaba’s timing.

North West University politics professor, Andre Duvenhage, said Mashaba’s claims demonstrated the extent of the tension tearing the party’s top leadership apart, and that it was part of the symptoms of the racial divide within the party.

“The claims come in the backdrop of the dramatic panel review report calling for party leader [Mmusi] Maimane to step back and are critical of the relationship between the DA and EFF [Economic Freedon Fighters] in Tshwane and Johannesburg.

“So [Mashaba’s claims] cannot be separated from the bigger DA internal strife. In fact, it indicates the level of tension between the classic liberals and the so-called black caucus in the DA,” said Duvenhage.

According to him, Gauteng is the battleground for the DA’s leadership tussle and Mashaba is right in the middle of it due to his relationship with the EFF in the Joburg metro.

City Press reported yesterday that Mashaba was unhappy with Leon’s participation in the review, commissioned by the party to interrogate the party’s dismal performance in the May 8 elections, and said he he had failed to solicit the tender for a client of his company, Resolve Communications.

Duvenhage said Mashaba’s claims also tarnish the DA, which he said had focused on hammering the ANC for corruption and