Crossroads for many DA members – Mkhonto

A leader of the DA in Alexandra is keeping his fingers crossed that the party will chart its way back into a stable opposition.

This after the recent departure of some of the party’s national leaders and others who claimed it had veered off course.

Proportional representative councillor in Alex, Shadrack Mkhonto was on the sidelines of the bruising leadership contest which saw party leader Mmusi Maimane, federal chairperson James Self and City of Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba leave the party rather unceremoniously. Maimane was replaced by John Steenhuisen as interim leader and Self by former party leader Helen Zille.

Mkhonto said the changes which were not the most ideal, partly resulted from recommendations of a committee that had assessed the party’s waning fortunes in the last general election where they apparently lost many black votes to the EFF and white votes to the FF Plus. “If this assertion is factual, then the issue of race should matter to the leadership of the party, and its sustainability going forward.”

Mkhonto said this in response to contested views about the role of race in the party and, to many who had seen Maimane as a token black leader.

He added that the party’s loss of votes was a collective responsibility for all in leadership and credited Maimane for raising the DA’s profile as a formidable opposition in parliament and laying a foundation for its future sustainability ‘in keeping with its mandate of ensuring freedom, fairness and equal opportunity for all in the country’.

He said many grassroots members of the party had questioned the leadership contest process. “They [members] are not privy to how issues at the higher echelon are handled and therefore seek answers in order to allay the restlessness which can haemorrhage votes at the 2021 municipal elections.”

Mkhonto said the response to these questions would have to come from party activists who must convey a clear message to reassure members of the party’s commitment to its mandate, manifesto and policies. “To rebuild and recover the lost votes, the activists require clear messaging from the new leadership.

“The new leaders should commit to rectifying flaws that saw some with scant knowledge of the party being parachuted into top leadership positions.” This, Mkhonto said, was important in retaining the tried and tested soldiers of the party other than careerists wanting to reap what they didn’t sow. “The soldiers, who shouldn’t be judged on educational qualifications, have amassed political knowledge, skills, awareness and commitment to the party’s ethos to endear them to any higher leadership position.”

This, he said, were issues keeping him and many other members at the crossroads and they wait in anticipation of the delivery of the party’s manifesto by its new leaders.

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