Durban - The DA’s federal legal committee may have ended its case against Dianne Kohler Barnard, but its work is not over.
Chairwoman Glynnis Breytenbach confirmed they were probing who had leaked the screen grab of the post Kohler Barnard shared on Facebook to the ANC. One of the suspects, according to sources within the party, was Zwakele Mncwango, party leader in KZN.
Breytenbach said: “There is such an investigation,” but she wouldn’t comment, saying the investigation was ongoing.
Some party members previously claimed Mncwango leaked the screen grab to the ANC and helped the investigation team with evidence during Kohler Barnard’s disciplinary hearing.
Mncwango shot down these claims. He said earlier this month that he had provided the thread of e-mails he had exchanged with Kohler Barnard when he ordered her to remove the post.
After sharing the post Kohler Barnard attracted widespread criticism. She was subsequently fired from the party. She fought against her expulsion through seasoned senior advocate Barry Roux and last month the legal committee reversed the decision. She remained a member of Parliament but was stripped of all other positions.
An incensed Mncwango said: “I don’t understand why they are trying to investigate internal members and charging them over the issue that was shared in public. It wasn’t an SMS that was leaked to the media,” he said.
Mncwango said he was perplexed why the legal committee was investigating the person who leaked the post, instead of dealing with the person who shared the post. He pointed out that the post was on a public platform so “anyone could have screen grabbed it”.
He accused individuals from the federal committee of being selective when they gave information to the media.
He said the allegations of leaking the screen grab were also levelled against senior leaders in KZN. He said this would divide his province.
“If you suspect individuals from the organisation you are going to divide it,” he said.
Reacting to this, Kohler Barnard said in an SMS response: “It is not appropriate for me to discuss the internal investigation.”
On the burning issue of racism which has plagued the country, she said: “Of course, I utterly deplore racism.”
Meanwhile ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the party had started applications in the Equality Court against DA public representatives Dianne Kohler Barnard and Chris Roberts, and former DA member Penny Sparrow. The ANC said it wanted Kohler Barnard to pay R500 000 to an organisation that advocates racial tolerance and for the director of public prosecutions to bring criminal charges against her.
The ruling party also applied for the same against DA councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Chris Roberts, for allegedly calling a fellow councillor, Mongameli Bobani, a “bobbejaan” (baboon) during debate on July 30 last year.
Despite her woes, Kohler Barnard said she had been welcomed with “open arms” in her constituency in Durban south which includes predominantly black townships like uMlazi and Lamontville.
Sunday Tribune