The Democratic Alliance (DA) has kicked off its two-day elective conference this weekend in Midrand.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL Politics
Last weekend, the DA had an elective conference, which the media referred to as the "watershed moment." Whatever that means. In my book, there was nothing special or spectacular about the DA's elective conference.
There is one thing that few people are talking about: the DA maintains white people in top leadership positions. Its former leader John Steenhuisen, is white. The incoming leader (a foregone conclusion—he will be elected), Geordin Hill-Lewis, is white.
Yet the party claims it elects leaders based on merit. What merit? Interestingly, the majority members of the DA are black.
Yet the national leadership remains lily-white. Since its establishment, it had one Black leader, Mmusi Maimane. Are there no capable Black leaders in the blue party?
Of course, there are. Why are they not in top leadership? The answer is obvious. The truth is the DA is a racist political party (though it denies it) under the guise of liberalism. Cape Town has never had a black DA mayor. Is that a coincidence? Not at all. Hill-Lewis said he will remain a Cape Town mayor after the elective conference. Why?
He will be looking after the interests of whites. When Maimane was the DA leader, he was second-guessed and undermined by white leadership, including Helen Zille. In fact, the blue party regarded him as its worst leader.
The truth is, he was undermined because of his skin colour.The worst DA leader was Steenhuisen. He was a disaster waiting to happen. The man broke up the marriage of his friend, a former party member. No moral leadership.
He also misused the party credit card. Lack of financial management. Yet the blue party downplayed it and defended him. Why? Because he's white. In the DA, no blacks are in strategic leadership.
The few that are in the leadership are window dressing. Therefore, blacks are there to add numbers, not value. The sooner they realise it the better. Otherwise, the status quo will remain.
Thabile Mange, Kagiso