Cape Town - DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille has dismissed claims that she thwarted a motion of no confidence supported by four of the party’s black leaders to remove Swellendam mayor, Francois du Rand.
Du Rand is accused of racism, and of providing superior services to white residents and businesses, and perpetuating inequality in the town.
The GOOD party alleged the motion was supported by all four DA councillors of colour in the municipality who wanted him removed.
However it was withdrawn after the councillor who was set to propose the motion was apparently called by Zille on the morning before the meeting last week.
But Zille refuted the claims on Monday, saying: “I did not call anyone in Swellendam. Everyone in the party has to follow the DA's rules and due process in dealing with issues.”
Meanwhile opposition parties claim the DA caucus in Swellendam has been divided along racial lines.
GOOD party secretary-general and member of parliament Brett Herron said over the past several years, a succession of senior DA leaders of colour had “walked away from the party, alleging they felt they were being used as window-dressing by a party with an agenda to protect white privilege”.
“The DA has routinely responded by dismissing such allegations as sour grapes. The public dissolution of camaraderie in its ranks, in Swellendam, tells its own story,”he said.
ANC MPL for Swellendam, Rachel Windovgel, said black DA councillors were said to have written complaints to the provincial and national leadership about the mayor, to no avail.
“Some councillors in the black caucus of the DA have degrees in public administration, while the mayor is said to have only a chef’s qualification, but this does not bother the DA.
It is clear that the DA’s black caucus has more experience and better qualifications than their white counterparts but, as is the case on a national level with the DA, these mean nothing. Only skin colour matters.
The four DA councillors, who brought the motion of no confidence in the DA mayor, are confident that the mayor will be removed by the end of this week,” she said.
Responding on Monday, du Rand called for the parties to provide evidence to substantiate their claims and accusations.
“I cannot respond to unsubstantiated allegations made by a corrupt political party with zero credibility among the South African citizenry.
Instead of wasting time on creating falsehoods, the ANC should focus on ending the load shedding and unemployment crisis they have created,“ he said.
Cape Times