DA's internal problems bubble over in public

1 January 2015

The ANC questions the timing of the sudden shuffle of the Western Cape executive council by premier Helen Zille in the last hours of 2014.

It is clearly an attempt to bury this chop and contain the embarrassment of demoting one of the most senior DA party members in the province - as former provincial leader Theuns Botha is now axed as MEC of health and shifted to the insignificant portfolio of cultural affairs and sport.

MEC of cultural affairs and sport NomaFrench Mbombo takes over from Botha. This is another attempt by Zille to position an African woman to succeed her, just like her failed attempt to take on board Agang's Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

Western Cape legislature ANC caucus chief whip Pierre Uys says: "The DA's internal succession problems bubble over in public. Botha is clearly not part of Zille's future plans. He is just another casualty of the DA liberal take-over and an Afrikaans member that has to make way for more ‘acceptable' material.

"Botha has fallen out of favour with the liberals and is seen as a threat to Zille's inner circle. He was systematically managed down, lost out on the premiership and had to make way as provincial leader too. Now he loses a position in control of a third of the total provincial budget to a minor perch of little worth. He is shifted out of the core to be sent off into the sunset. It is also an obvious attempt to window dress and place more people of colour in more important posts."

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape Chief Whip Pierre Uys, January 1 2015

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter