DA bans 'racist' label in internal contests

Warning was issued to members during a meeting last weekend

- By Setumo Stone

The DA warned during its North West congress that negative campaigning was forbidden.

(Gallo Images)

The DA has warned members against “negative campaigning” in internal leadership contests, as the party moves to prevent the use of inflammatory labels, including the word “racist”, to discredit contenders in the run-up to key organisational processes.

Asked whether the national office had received any complaints from provinces, DA national spokesperson Jan de Villiers referred questions to Desiree van der Walt, the party presiding officer for the North West Congress, where claims of racism have surfaced. This includes threats that white DA councilors would not be retained if a black leader is elected to head the party in the province, mentioned as part of attempts to turn support away from certain candidates ahead of leadership nominations closing next week.

Van der Walt did not respond to questions at the time of going to print, and several other DA councillors contacted referred their questions to constituency leader in North West's city of Matlosana in Klerksdorp, Jeanne Adriaanse.