Rivals circle as DA prepares for elections

DA mayoral candidate for Joburg Helen Zille with supporters at the launch of the party’s campaign manifesto at Johannesburg City Hall last week. Pictures: Gallo Images Though the DA’s Helen Zille is winning the battle for headlines in the Joburg mayoral race, there are signs the party will face significant challenges in winning the “not-ANC” vote in the looming local government elections. And, as internal tussles intensify in the DA, including around the election of a new leader next month and selection of additional office holders, it is facing significant electoral challenges in two of its traditional support bases, conservative whites and coloureds.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) may be one of the DA’s serious challengers. It has already been claimed that DA members have defected to Corné Mulder’s party in significant numbers. Mulder said the party had seen a steady stream of new members in recent months, with many identifying themselves as former DA supporters.

According to him, the trend became particularly visible over the December-January period, traditionally a quieter time in the political calendar. “In December and January, we had new memberships coming in at an average of 54 each and every day,” Mulder said. “Of those, 57% said they came from the DA.” Mulder said the defections reflect a clearer, visible identity for the FF+.

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“We are not in the shadow of the DA and also not in the slipstream of the ANC,” he said. “We have worked hard to establish our own identity and say clearly what we stand for.” He also suggested internal tensions within the DA have contributed to the exit of members. “Clearly, there is conflict within the DA,” Mulder said. “When a party has internal conflict, it makes people uncomfortable.”

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