Durban - The leader of the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwakele Mncwango, has jumped to the defence of Dianne Kohler Barnard in the face of a social media furore after she participated in election campaigning in uMlazi.
A picture posted by Mncwango with Kohler Barnard in the south Durban township at the weekend created a stir as critics - including ANC KZN media officer, Mhlaba Memela - called her a racist and demanded the provincial leader take the issue of racism seriously.
Kohler-Barnard, who heads the south Durban constituency, which includes uMlazi, was defended by party supporters, Mncwango and the DA’s new kid on the block, Nomfundo Khuboni, the party’s youngest eThekwini councillor candidate for the coming local government elections.
Kohler Barnard said on Monday: “I have seen the comments, but I will not and I do not respond to people who want to make political capital out of me. I have been punished severely by the DA and I do my job at the behest of the DA.”
An MP and vociferous critic of the police department, she was fined and expelled from the party and later reinstated after sharing a Facebook post by journalist, Paul Kirk, that read: “Please come back, PW Botha - you were far more honest than any of these (ANC) rogues.”
The post was widely read as an endorsement of the apartheid president and a fierce racial storm ensued.
Yesterday, Kohler Barnard said she had paid her fine and was committed to building the DA further in areas such as uMlazi, an area she visited weekly to do party work.
“I will continue to do my work. There is a number of people that I have been working with for years who will become councillors in two or three months time and I will continue to do that.”
Memela said his was not a personal attack on Kohler Barnard and appealed for consistency from the DA when it came to leaders apologising for their transgressions.
“I don’t have a problem with her but I believe we should be consistent; We are all equal, you cannot say wrong things and expect people to be quiet, because Mncwango posts a lot of provocative things towards the ANC himself,”he said.
Mncwango said insults towards Kohler Barnard should stop. “The insults directed at her were uncalled for, she has been punished. People must respect the processes followed by the DA internally.”
Mncwango said the MP was one of the best performing leaders and was welcomed by people in uMlazi openly.
“She has done a great job in uMlazi where she is welcome in the community because people know she believes in the values of the organisation.”
Daily News