By Celani Sikhakhane
Christopher Pappas, the DA’s only mayor in KwaZulu-Natal, has blamed party veteran Tony Leon for the exodus of black leaders from the party.
Appearing on the Affirmation Podcast, Pappas said the party veteran Tony Leon’s comments were responsible for young leaders leaving the party.
He cited Leon’s 2021 book, Future Tense, in which Leon describes the former leader of the opposition, Mmusi Maimane, as an “experiment”.
Leon has also been accused of plotting against the DA mayor of the city of Johannesburg, Dr Mpho Phalatse, to be removed from the mayorship position.
Pappas, who just celebrated a clean audit at his Umngeni Local Municipality, has earned his stripes as a respected regional leader.
“I don’t want to shy away from the misbehaviour of Tony Leon. He is doing everything to destroy the DA because he is no longer leading the party. His time has passed,” said Pappas.
“That is why he is destroying the party by demoralising black leaders in the party. This is totally unacceptable,” said Pappas.
Pappas said that the likes of Leon should stay away from DA issues if they have nothing positive to offer to the party.
The party has lost the likes of Maimane, Herman Mashaba, Zwakele Mncwango, Patricia Kopane, John Moody, Mbali Ntuli, Makashule Gana, Bongani Baloyi and many others. Most of these leaders blamed the mistreatment they had received from the party for their exit.
Pictured above: Mayor Christopher Pappas
Image source: @MagubaneSL
