Cape Town - The DA’s acceptance of Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement leader Loyiso Nkohla and his supporters into the party has left members fuming, with some turning to social media saying “it would be sad to see ANC-style hooliganism becoming part of the DA”.
Nkohla, who in protest against poor sanitation in townships had infamously dumped human waste on the steps of the provincial legislature, last week publicly endorsed the DA.
While he has also brought 500 supporters with him who have already signed up as DA members, he is not permitted to join until his legal battles are won.
Nkohla is appealing a Bellville Regional Court decision that found him guilty of contravening the Civil Aviation Act for also dumping human waste at Cape Town International Airport.
He and eight others were given a three-year suspended sentence.
The other case of throwing poo on the steps of the provincial legislature is pending in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
Social media has been abuzz with DA supporters airing their concerns and distrust in the notorious “poo protesters” who had a sudden change of heart and now believe in the DA’s values.
Senior party members, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that the move, which aims to boost the party’s numbers in the townships, could backfire.
They say mayor Patricia de Lille and her deputy in the DA’s provincial leadership, Bonginkosi Madikizela – the brains behind the Ses’khona defections – were called before the party’s federal leadership at the weekend to give feedback.
DA’s federal executive chairman James Selfe would not confirm this, saying he was not allowed to talk about what was discussed in the meeting.
But Madikizela conceded there was some unhappiness, but stressed that politics was not just about values – but also all about numbers.
“Let me be frank, there are people out there who are really hypocrites when it comes to the evolution of this party.
“This party brought together many people from different backgrounds, and some of the people committed worse crimes against humanity and their crimes can never be compared to what Nkohla and the people from Ses’khona did,” he added.
Madikizela stressed that if people wanted to grow the party, they should accept and understand that the DA would have to attract people they previously did not agree with.
Selfe emphasised that Nkhola had not been admitted to the membership of the DA, because he was precluded from being a member in terms of the party’s constitution, as he had been convicted of an offence.
“This will apply until such time as he wins an appeal against his conviction. The same applies to any other person, whether from Ses’khona or any other organisation, who has been convicted of any serious offence.
Tackling the question of the DA’s values, Selfe said Nkohla publicly apologised personally and on behalf of his organisation for the harm he had caused.
“(This is) more than Mr Hernus Kriel or Dr Tertius Delport did when they joined the DP in the late 1990’s, nor did we require it of them.
“Politics is the business of changing people’s views – if we didn’t succeed in doing this, the party would never grow,” Selfe said.
But it was the scepticism, fear and cynicism of DA folk on Facebook that revealed a rift.
Edidt Craucamp posted: “I just hope they don’t bring the ANC mentality with them to the DA!”
Karin Roux questioned why the DA was welcoming people like Nkohla.
John Parker posted: “They are very slow adapters. Perhaps the T-shirts are better quality. Leaving the ANC is like a Roman Catholic becoming a Pentecostal, it won’t happen easily.”
Sisa Pikinini posted: “The same guys that were complaining about Helen Zille and went to (the) airport and dropped the poo to get attention… now they are proudly DA?”
Vivienne Reid wrote: “I am extremely concerned that you welcome all and sundry with open arms.”
DA's federal executive chairman James Selfe would not confirm this, saying he was not allowed to talk about what was discussed in the meeting.
But Madikizela conceded there was some unhappiness, but stressed that politics was not just about values – but also all about numbers.
“Let me be frank, there are people out there who are really hypocrites when it comes to the evolution of this party.
"This party brought together many people from different backgrounds, and some of the people committed worse crimes against humanity and their crimes can never be compared to what Nkohla and the people from Ses’khona did,” he added.
Madikizela stressed that if people wanted to grow the party, they should accept and understand that the DA would have to attract people they previously did not agree with.
Selfe emphasised that Nkhola had not been admitted to the membership of the DA, because he was precluded from being a member in terms of the party's constitution, as he had been convicted of an offence.
“This will apply until such time as he wins an appeal against his conviction. The same applies to any other person, whether from Ses’khona or any other organisation, who has been convicted of any serious offence.
Tackling the question of the DA’s values, Selfe said Nkohla publicly apologised personally and on behalf of his organisation for the harm he had caused.
“(This is) more than Mr Hernus Kriel or Dr Tertius Delport did when they joined the DP in the late 1990’s, nor did we require it of them.
"Politics is the business of changing people's views – if we didn't succeed in doing this, the party would never grow,” Selfe said.
But it was the scepticism, fear and cynicism of DA folk on Facebook that revealed a rift.
Edidt Craucamp posted: “I just hope they don't bring the ANC mentality with them to the DA!”
Karin Roux questioned why the DA was welcoming people like Nkohla.
John Parker posted: “They are very slow adapters. Perhaps the T-shirts are better quality. Leaving the ANC is like a Roman Catholic becoming a Pentecostal, it won’t happen easily.”
Sisa Pikinini posted: “The same guys that were complaining about Helen Zille and went to (the) airport and dropped the poo to get attention… now they are proudly DA?”
Vivienne Reid wrote: “I am extremely concerned that you welcome all and sundry with open arms."