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Ivor Sarakinsky: DA crisis? What crisis?
The main opposition party in South Africa has lost three main leaders in its party. Several more members of the party have crossed the floor in KwaZulu-Natal to the leading party, the ANC. The questions that remains on many South Africans minds now, is where to from here for the DA? Joining CNBC Africa for more is Dr Ivor Sarakinsky, Wits School of Governance.
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 15:51:32 GMT
Disclaimer: The following content is generated automatically by a GPT AI and may not be accurate. To verify the details, please watch the video
AI Generated Summary
- Focus on stability and reconstruction to overcome leadership crisis
- Downplaying the significance of defections and emphasizing local factors
- Speculation about new leadership roles and the importance of racial representation
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa has recently experienced a turbulent period with the departure of three main leaders and the crossing of eight officials to the African National Congress (ANC). Despite these challenges, Dr. Ivor Sarakinsky from the Wits School of Governance believes that the party can overcome this crisis by focusing on stability and reconstruction.
Dr. Sarakinsky emphasized the importance of establishing ad hoc leadership to stabilize the situation, rebuild the leadership infrastructure, and reposition the party to respond to the needs of its diverse voter base, including black, white, coloured, and Indian voters. He suggested that the DA should aim to deliver a compelling message leading up to the 2021 election and beyond.
When questioned about the recent defections within the DA, Dr. Sarakinsky downplayed the significance of these events, attributing them to local factors rather than national political issues. He compared the situation to 'pork barrel politics' in the United States, suggesting that defections may be driven by personal or political advantages.
Despite the challenges faced by the DA, Dr. Sarakinsky pointed to the party's performance in municipal by-elections as a sign of resilience. He expressed confidence that with adjustments and a focus on addressing core concerns, the DA could regain its position as a competitive force in opposition politics.
Speculation about new leadership within the DA has been circulating, with John Steenhuisen emerging as a potential parliamentary leader. Steenhuisen's resignation from his previous position as chief was linked to the departure of former party leader Musi Maimane. Additionally, Natasha Mazzone has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the role of Chief Whip, with the DA mindful of balancing racial demographics in leadership positions.
Dr. Sarakinsky highlighted the importance of racial representation within the party's leadership, noting that having two white parliamentary leaders could fuel perceptions of a racist takeover. He suggested that appointing a prominent black member to the Chief Whip position could help address these concerns.
As the DA navigates through this challenging period, the party's choices in leadership will be crucial in shaping its future trajectory. With a focus on stability, reconstruction, and addressing key concerns, the DA aims to reassert itself as a strong player in South African politics.
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