Cape Town - The DA might find support dwindling in the party’s East region, which includes the Overberg, Southern Cape and Klein Karoo, in the run up to the August 3 local government elections as party members, disgruntled by its candidate lists, have either left for opposition parties, or have decided to run as independent candidates.
The Cape Argus is aware of at least five party members in the East region who have either joined other parties or have registered themselves as independents.
Other candidates have also reportedly defected from the party to run independently in the towns of Kannaland, Swellendam, Riversdal, Mosselbay and George.
DA chairman in the Western Cape Anton Bredell was questioned by angry members in Riversdal over the party’s candidate list for the area.
Bredell also told the Cape Argus that there was unhappiness among members in the Hessequa local municipality which covers Heidelberg, Slangrivier, Riversdal, Albertinia, Gouritz and Stilbaai.
“I explained the party’s list processes, because there has been unhappiness with the candidates chosen,” he said.
Members wanted to know why party stalwarts were ignored in the list process, including the son of former DA provincial leader Theuns Botha.
Botha said on Monday that his son, Louis Botha had registered as an independent candidate.
Botha senior said a meeting on Friday night had become heated as members expressed their unhappiness with the candidate list.
“Those in attendance were unhappy and discussions were open and frank. The DA cannot afford to lose votes and therefore whatever is broken must be fixed,” he said.
A source within the DA said if more candidates opted to run independently, it could hurt the party.
“The party’s lists were not accepted in the Hessequa municipality and more regions are complaining.
“We have five independent candidates contesting the elections in Hessequa and this will ultimately be the difference between winning and loosing the elections,” the source said.
Another member said the DA must fix some of the mistakes it had made during the candidate selections.
“There were many mistakes made with the candidates, the party did not pick the cream of the crop, although they say otherwise,” the member said.
This past weekend, the DA terminated the membership of one of its councillors in the Swellendam municipality after it came to light he was joining the Freedom Front Plus.
Beverley Schafer, the constituency head for Swellendam, said Du Toit Loubser had applied, but failed to make the DA”s candidates list for Ward 1 in Swellendam.
“We have terminated his membership. This will result in Loubser no longer being able to serve as a councillor. The DA process of selection is a fair and democratic one and the best candidates were chosen to stand as DA candidates,” Schafer said.
She added the DA was aware that other councillors across the party”s East region who did not make the list had been in talks with opposition parties.
“Similar disciplinary steps will be taken. Aggrieved candidates, after terminating their membership with the DA, are free to join any of the 66 parties that will be on ballot papers in the Western Cape. But in Swellendam, let me stress that a vote for any minority party is ultimately a vote for the ANC.”
Jaco Londt, regional manager in the East region, said the party was aware of several sitting DA councillors who were unsuccessful in their applications to run as candidates during the August 3 polls were either running as independent candidates or had joined opposition parties. “We are confident that we have selected the best possible candidates. We have a strong team in place to contest the upcoming elections.”
Londt warned councillors that the party would act swiftly against any member if the DA’s leadership discovered they were entertaining other political parties. “According to the party”s constitution, any member who publicly declares that he is joining another party will have his membership terminated.”
Cape Argus