DA caucus leader debates the matter of his expulsion

Lolo Madonsela

Long-serving member of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal, Sibusiso Nkosi was expelled from the party last week for allegedly defying instruction from DA provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango.
Nkosi was a caucus leader in the Zululand District Municipality (ZDM), which the DA co-governs with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). “In 2016, we came into co-governance with the IFP, with clearly stated roles of engagements documented. We were not in a coalition with the IFP, but we were in co-governance which meant we would support the IFP in assuming power but would remain an opposition. We signed a co-governance with the IFP in three affected municipalities; the Zululand District plus the local AbaQulusi and eDumbe Municipalities,” said Nkosi.
He claimed the matters leading to his expulsion began in 2017, when he refused to support a motion seeking removal of the ZDM Municipal Manager.
“In those meetings, where the issue of the MM was discussed, we always staged a walkout. The provincial leader was aware we don’t support the suspension of the MM. Eventually the MM was suspended and an acting MM was appointed, and he served for three months. It was after those three months that a request for his extended service came forward and we were against that. We still believed the suspended MM should have been given his job back, because the grounds of his suspension were not right and the process was flawed.”

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Nkosi continued that in April 2018, another meeting was held to discuss the extension of the acting MM’s contact.
On his way to the meeting, Nkosi alleged he received a call from Zwakele himself, advising him to avoid walking out of the meeting. “I told him I would take his advice, however I would table it in the caucus because I couldn’t make that decision alone. I then tabled the advice in caucus, and they agreed unanimously we would continue to walk out… on the issue of the MM. We then walked out as agreed, and that is where the case began.” Following that meeting, Nkosi alleged the caucus members were instructed to attend a disciplinary hearing because they had defied the leader’s instructions. “The DA Constitution is very clear that the caucus is independent, which means it can take decisions without any interference. The disciplinary hearing’s first seating was in August/ September 2018. The hearing went on until October 2018. We presented all the facts on why we took that resolution and why we left the meeting.”
The hearing was finalised, added Nkosi, and the Provincial Executive Committee took a resolution on the matter in October 2018, but did not present its findings to those under scrutiny and ‘stalled’ until after the Municipal Elections, when Nkosi and his peers informed their DA membership had been terminated.
“We appealed to the FLC [Federal Legal Commission] towards the end of last year and this year we received the final verdict, and it was a termination of my membership. In a caucus of six people, it is only me whose membership was terminated. I was told I did not show any remorse and I did not apologise. My reason, is how can I apologise when I know I am right and that I was within the framework of the party’s constitution? If the party is really fighting corruption and is anti-corrupt, then it should have understood why we did what we did. That is the story behind my expulsion. I was fired because I was fighting against wrongdoing and corruption, which I will continue to do even as an ordinary citizen.”
Nkosi concluded by thanking the activists, councillors and residents he had worked with.
“I would like to say that the DA which works for people and cares about people is not this one we have today; which fires people because they are fighting against corruption. I am encouraging our brothers to continue with the fight. There are people in this DA who are against independent thinkers – they ‘deal’ with them. Our people must be very careful. I think maybe another reason for my expulsion is an attempt to silence those who are vocal within the organisation.”

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Nkosi stated he was not aggrieved or angry with his expulsion and walked away with his pride intact.
“I say it is better to go hungry than to be abused because of a salary. We will meet again on the streets of politics. I will give my way forward soon as I am still applying my mind. I remain a social democrat; I will also associate myself with a party going with my values. I want to encourage our brothers and sisters to continue fighting for our people.”
On Monday afternoon, Mncwango confirmed Nkosi’s termination of membership and stated the decision had not come from him as a party leader, but from the party itself.
“Nkosi was not the only one who was called for a disciplinary hearing; there were other members too. They admitted guilt and that is showing remorse. The people did not vote for us to fight for them outside of Council but inside Council, so you cannot be serving people if you always walk out of Council meetings if there are things you do not agree with. You need to state that and vote against it. Yes, we are in co-governance with the IFP but the MOU [memorandum of understanding] we signed clearly stated we had a right to vote against matters did we do not agree with.”
He disputed Nkosi’s claims that the DA was against those fighting corruption, calling the party an organisation ‘clear in the fight against corruption’. “We have been fighting corruption and we will continue to fight corruption, so what he is saying is nonsensical, because no one in the DA has ever stopped him opening a case of corruption against anyone who he felt was [guilty of] corruption. We were supporting him in all his fights, on allegations of corruption in the municipality he brought to us. He must not be selective in giving you information and should be asked for a copy of all the charges against him. In essence, the party made the decision not myself,” concluded Mncwango.

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