INLSA
Diane Kohler Barnard
Dirty tricks and fierce contestation are characterising the DA’s toughest internal election campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, and an internal investigation is to be launched into a smear campaign against provincial leader Sizwe Mchunu.
The battle has even spilled into cyberspace, where senior MPs Diane Kohler Barnard and John Steenhuisen have thrown their weight behind certain candidates.
Seventeen people are vying for six positions in what the party’s provincial director, William Goldstone, has called the “most hotly contested DA elective congress ever”. The battle also coincides with the biggest field of black DA politicians vying for key positions.
The last round of leadership debates before Saturday’s election ended in Pinetown last night.
Kohler Barnard, who is firmly behind “Team Sizwe”, took exception to Mchunu’s being called a “gatekeeper” – a name for someone blocking the progression of others in politics.
Mchunu and Greg Krumbock, the provincial chairman, are hoping to retain their positions. On Facebook, Kohler Barnard wrote that Mchunu “spoke like a leader” despite being attacked by his opponent, whom she called “Been Here for Five Months Ziba Jiyane”.
Jiyane, who is standing for the provincial leadership, and Haniff Hoosen, who is aiming for the chairmanship, are in one team. Jiyane broke away from the IFP, where he was secretary-general, to form the now-defunct Nadeco. Hoosen is secretary of the ID, which has joined forces with the DA.
Mchunu conceded to The Mercury that the fight, which has seen the leaking of an e-mail criticising his leadership style, had left him depressed over the past two days because it was aimed at “compromising my integrity”. He said that during the debates “there were instances where certain individuals skated on a very thin line”.
The public debates, in which each candidate was given five minutes to address DA members before the floor was opened to questions, have been described as “vicious” and “very ugly”.
One senior party leader said: “It has become a vicious battle. This contest is about the DA and not personalities, but some people want to keep it at (the personality) level.”
Jiyane acknowledged the campaigning had been “vicious”, with negative stories being planted. “But I’m not involved in it because I’m not privy to DA battles and secrets. We are trying very hard to keep it civil and not let it degenerate into name calling,” he said.
Jiyane and Hoosen have been accused of waging a public war against Mchunu and Krumbock. Jiyane wrote on Facebook: “You can’t effect change by maintaining the status quo. If you keep doing the same things, YOU WILL GET THE SAME RESULTS. Let’s do this together!!!!”
Kohler Barnard, who is also the DA’s spokeswoman on police, is also contesting the election. Yesterday she wrote on Facebook: “I’m standing for deputy provincial chairperson. Please consider voting for me – then do!”
Steenhuisen posted a message saying some people were sanctimonious and perhaps should have stuck to their careers as they were not suited to politics. When asked what he meant, he wrote: “It was directed at people who have been writing nasty things on FB and who don’t tolerate political competition. This is a clash of ideas, not a clash of personalities.”
The conference will be opened by DA leader Helen Zille 8P10
