Political analyst Ongama Mtimka says race plays an important role in South African politics.
His statement comes after Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary leader John Steenhuizen said race should not be used to elect the party’s interim leader.
Steenhuizen is widely expected to win the race for the position.
The other candidate is member of the Gauteng Legislature Makashule Gana.
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Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela withdrew from the race last week.
The DA will elect its interim leader when the party’s Federal Council sits in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Excited for today and looking forward to interactions with our delegates #JoinJohn pic.twitter.com/XO7rlpFAnz
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) November 17, 2019
The party says the council has only one item on the agenda – the election of the Interim Federal leader and interim Federal chairperson to lead the party until the Federal congress next year.
There are three candidates for the position of interim Federal chairperson.
Mtimka says Gana does not stand a chance…
“It would be a surprise for me if Gana makes it… If a black DA leader would be elected at a time when a seemingly dominant narrative in the DA is to reclaim the party, What it would show is that it is about ideology rather than rule per se.”
