GEORGE NEWS - Several DA branches in George joined forces in an attempt to prevent the DA Western Cape East Region Congress from taking place on Saturday (23 September).
Marchell Kleynhans, a candidate for the position of secretary of the East Region, is the main complainant in the matter.
According to Kleinhans, a total of 13 local DA branches support an application to the Cape Town High Court for a court interdict to stop the congress.
"At this stage we are exploring different legal avenues with the help of a legal team. We will know by Thursday morning how we want to deal with the situation," said Kleynhans.
The unhappiness stems from the fact that only eight DA branches have been given permission to send representatives to the congress. The rest did not make the cut during an audit earlier this year by the DA's federal executive auditor.
Administrative issues are now hindering some 35 members from George to cast their vote during the upcoming congress in Hartenbos over the weekend.
"What we say is establish the branches and give us a chance to choose representatives to go to the congress. They (DA leadership) are arrogant and refuse to listen to our pleas," said Kleynhans.
James Selfe
One big administrative problem is that some branches have less than the required 50 members per branch.
To form a valid branch one requires to have, on the specific audit date, a minimum of 50 signed-up and paid-up members. In addition, members must sign and pay their membership fee in person.
Problems in this regard were also picked up during the audit process. According to the chairperson of the DA branch in Ward 20, Regina Windwaai, she has no idea why their branch was disbanded.
"I have been the chairperson of the branch since 2006, and I have always done things the right way," she said. Windwaai is of the opinion that it is a big ploy from the DA leadership to make sure those who would give their support to Kleynhans in the election, will be out of the way.
"Kleynhans will be contesting against DA member of the Provincial Legislature, Tertuis Simmers and George Councillor Raybin Figland for the position of East regional secretary.
"Simmers is also the political head of the George constituency. Although the branch which Kleynhans chairs has been disallowed, he may, as a valid member of the party, stand for election to the position.
Objection from a DA veteran
Former DA Chief Whip of the George Council, Flip de Swardt, said he only learned about a week ago that the DA branch in Ward 22, which he chaired, was disbanded a few months ago.
De Swardt, a former secretary for the DA in George and founder member of the party, confirmed his loyalty to the party, but said he is very upset and disappointed in his party's conduct and lack of communication.
"I support the party's regulations, I am just very upset that I was never informed about this situation," said De Swardt.
Flip de Swardt
"I am a senior member of the party and up until this point I have never been informed by the DA about this. When I tried to find out about a week ago why I was not invited to the congress in Hartenbos, I was informed that the branch was disbanded earlier this year. I was never given the option to conjoin with another branch."
Party follows procedures 'to the letter'
In his response, Chairman of the DA Federal Executive Committee, James Selfe, invites Kleynhans to engage the party to resolve their grievances. "It is regrettable that Marchell Kleynhans has threatened legal action, but he is welcome to bring an action.
"We are satisfied that our procedures have been followed to the letter. Because of that, we will vigorously oppose any such action, should it be launched," said Selfe.
"It is completely untrue that the party dealt with this matter arrogantly. We gave the George situation a great deal of thought and discussion. We remain acutely conscious of the contribution our members make and have made, but if the basic rules about membership are not adhered to, there is the danger of chaos ensuing."
He explained that a number of branches in the George constituency were not able to be constituted because they did not have the minimum of 50 valid members on the audit date. "What then happens is that such branches are conjoined with adjacent branches to make up the minimum of 50 members," said Selfe.
"All the disallowed branches in the George area have been so conjoined, which means that every valid member can participate in elections of delegates to higher structures.
"This means, in turn, that no valid member has been disenfranchised. When the branches were disallowed, they registered a complaint. These complaints were investigated by the region, the province and the Federal Legal Commission, the latter at my request, after I went to George to listen to the grievances of the members of the disallowed branches.
"Everyone who investigated the matter was sympathetic. The party genuinely tried to explore ways in which the situation could be resolved. The problem remained that, if the party made an exception for these branches, one would open up oneself to hundreds of other appeals, which could have had the effect of delaying AGMs and congresses."
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