LETTER: Negative views on DA elections part of nature of politics
|Published
Mayco members have drawn lines in the sand over who they will support as Mayor Dan Plato and Grant Twigg slug it out. Pictures: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
My letter has reference to "DA metro chairperson: Ranks close around rivals Grant Twigg and Dan Plato" (Cape Argus, October 8).
With the DA preparing for its internal local elections, viz the Cape Regional Metro, the Western Cape Provincial and the Federal congresses, there's bound to be frivolous mischief-making, creating a perception of internal conflict and squabbles. Many soothsayers from opposition sectors give a very bleak perspective and create animosity by misinterpreting the robust campaigning through negativity and pessimism with respect to the party.
I hasten to admit that we are in the business of politics and in any form of election, we have potential winners and losers. Sadly, those on the back foot will seek all forms of irregularities by the opposition to garner support to discredit their opponents. This is inevitable and the very nature of politics.
A case in point is the battle for the Cape Regional Metro chairmanship between Cape Town mayor Dan Plato and current metro chairperson Grant Twigg. The prize is that whoever wins can sway the DA’s City of Cape Town caucus policy direction and will hold tremendous decision-making powers.
The DA’s bedrock is based on freedom, fairness, opportunity and diversity underscored by One Nation (South Africa) For All, and having concluded a successful policy conference recently, all bona fide members are bound to the party’s values, principles and constitution, which bodes well for its loyal voters and record of clean governance.
Based on the aforesaid, the DA is confident to retain its record majority vote in the local government elections in 2021.
I appeal to all those who are standing as candidates for leadership positions on executive committees in all political parties to refrain from frivolous mischief-making to disparagingly break down their fellow party members, and consider the big picture of the focus of the party they represent.
Internal party elections must not be about an individual member who is hero-worshipped. Instead, allow the party collective to make a meaningful political party contribution to vote for a humble leader who can build on those founding tenets that their predecessors established.
Ultimately, I pray that those elected into leadership positions will exercise an attitude of servant leadership, based on empowerment of all its members, especially the unremunerated activists, and unify its members towards an equitable dispensation for South Africa, non-racial and free from corruption and violence or unethical behaviour.
* Councillor Mark RH Kleinschmidt, Ward 60, Lansdowne.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Cape Argus
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