Home

“DA is not a political home for black people”

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Pre-modernist philosophers were correct for observing and noting that: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
As an analyst, I think the DA is one of the most untransformed and regressive political parties in the country.
With the risk of being accused of intellectual chauvinism, I have decided to critique and lay bare the neo-conservative philosophy of the Democratic Alliance (DA). At the Conference of the United States Studies Association in 2007 I befriended a highly informative gentleman by the name of Jameson.He was there as a delegate from University of Botswana. On the last day of the conference he asked me this brave question: “Is the Democratic Alliance (in South Africa) really a political home for black people?” I was caught off-guard by the resounding context and implication of that question.
After a brief moment of thoughtful introspection, I responded to Jameson’s question with another question. I asked him: “Actually, why are you asking (me) that question?” He replied that he is always baffled and shocked by the DA’s crude opposition to black economic empowerment laws and policies.
He further charged that the DA is “an undisputable guardian of white privilege”. His general impression was that “the DA is not a political home for black people”. To demonstrate the strength and vitality of his argument, he even quoted an Anglo-Saxon adage that says: “Beware of the Greeks, even when they bring (you) gifts.”
Most political analysts are of a correct view that it is practically impossible to analyse the DA without invoking the notions of race, racism and race politics. The DA is not just an ordinary political party trying to establish its hegemony within the country’s political landscape.
It is a technocratic party whose mission is not yet embraced and trusted by most black South Africans. The party’s discussion documents, policies and ethos are not accomodative of the aspirations and hopes of an average black person.
In explicit terms, there is an observable “socio-economic disconnect” between black and white members of the DA. The party’s social development policies are ignorant of historical factors which have caused the socio-economic disparities between blacks and whites.
Some weeks ago the Labour Force Survey released a quarterly report on “labour-migration trends and employment statistics”. The report rated the DA-led Western Cape government as the worst (provincial government) in terms of employment of black people. In simple language, that implies that a black person is much more unlikely to get a job in the Western Cape.

“he real political power in the DA lies and resides among these mentioned officials. And it is very interesting to note that all these party officials are white. “

To comprehend the DA’s neo-conservative philosophy, we should first undertake an assessment of its recent political history. In 2000 the neo-fascist New National Party (NNP) merged with the liberal Democratic Party (DP) to form the Democratic Alliance.
The centre-right Federal Alliance later joined the DA. The NNP was comprised of and dominated by conservative Afrikaners while the DP was composed of white liberals and pretenders. Resultantly, the DA became a party whose primary task was to protect and defend the socio-economic interests and privileges of white people.
During the 2004 General Elections the DA secured 12.4% of the national vote. And in 2009 General Elections the party’s share of the national vote increased to 16.6%.
In Limpopo, Gauteng and Free State the party has managed to attract a considerable number of black people into its ranks. Notwithstanding that, all decision-making structures of the DA are (still) dominated and led by white people. There is a persisting belief among most black South Africans that the DA’s modus operandi is underpinned by race politics.
Between 2009 and last year, several black members of the DA in Limpopo complained on radio about the pervasive incidents of racism in the party. They maintained that there were separate amenities for black and white members at the DA provincial office in Limpopo.
To my shocking surprise, the party leadership failed to offer a convincing explanatory response to those reported allegations of racism. To this day, DA leaders have never initiated any pragmatic programme aimed at curbing the reported scourge of racism in the party.
There are even rumours that black and white members of the DA do not sit close to each other at branch meetings. Since its inception in 2000 the Limpopo DA has never been led by a black person. Even in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature the party is still dominated and led by whites.
Pre-modernist philosophers were correct for observing and noting that: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” In June this year the Limpopo DA held its elective provincial conference amid high hopes and expectations.
Prior to that conference there were speculation that a black person would be elected as the party’s new provincial leader. Unfortunately, that never happened. Jack Smalle, a (white) member of the National Assembly based in Cape Town, was pronounced as new DA provincial leader for Limpopo.
The DA is so sceptical of black leaders to a point whereby it even ‘imported’ a white man from Cape Town to come and lead the party in Limpopo. Maybe, there is an unwritten law in the DA (in Limpopo) that a black member should not be permitted to occupy the position of provincial leader.
The party’s parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, is usually cited as an inspiring example of the DA’s commitment to multi-racialism and national unity. That kind of assertion is not informed by empirical facts or logical accuracy. As parliamentary leader, Mazibuko takes political orders and instructions from the party’s federal council.
The party’s national leader, chairperson of federal council, federal chairperson and the chief executive officer are the most powerful officials in the party. These officials are responsible for the overall formulation and implementation of the party’s policies and resolutions.
The real political power in the DA lies and resides among these mentioned officials. And it is very interesting to note that all these party officials are white. As an analyst, I think the DA is one of the most untransformed and regressive political parties in the country. Amazingly, it thrives on tantalising slogans but hides behind a concrete wall of neo-liberal hypocrisy.

– By ANALYSIS: Elvis Masoga, political analyst

Author

MOST READ