Celani Sikhakhane
The Democratic Alliance is facing the biggest exodus of prominent leaders in its history.
A survey by market research company Ipsos shows the growth of the party in recent years can be accredited to the problems that are facing the ruling ANC. The DA is hoping to take over the country from the ANC in 2024 by forming a coalition with opposition parties.
However, the party’s bid to win power is now in jeopardy, as it has been losing its most loyal black leaders who have been the face of the party for more than a decade.
On Monday, former Free State party leader and MP Patricia Semakaleng Kopane tendered her resignation after 19 years in the DA. She joined the party in 2003 and served as its provincial leader from 2012 to 2020.
In an interview Kopane said the DA was no longer her home and she was planning to join ActionSA, the party founded by former DA Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba.
Her departure followed that of the most prominent leader from the Gauteng Legislature, Makashule Gana. Gana resigned on 4 August and has also joined ActionSA.
The DA has lost other important members, such as its former youth leader and member of the KZN Legislature Mbali Ntuli.
In her statement, Ntuli said she no longer felt welcome in the party after she challenged John Steenhuisen for the position of DA leader.
Another prominent DA leader from eThekwini Metro was Nicole Graham, who said she was quitting politics to focus on her studies in Australia.
The DA was seen as a threat to the ANC between 2014 and 2016. But the party had since lost the likes of Athol Trollip, Mmusi Maimane, Patricia de Lille and Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga told Scrolla.Africa those who left the DA no longer see the party as their political home.
“The DA is facing a problem where most of its leaders, whether black or white, no longer feel like the party is orientated to them,” said Mathekga. “This exodus would happen even if Helen
Zille was not there as a party leader.”
Image source:TheFreeStater
