The race for Western Cape DA leader is on

15 February 2017 - 15:57 By Aphiwe Deklerk
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DA candidates are going all out to garner support in the Western Cape.

File photo of Lennit Max.
File photo of Lennit Max.
Image: Ambrose Peters/Sowetan

The men vying to replace Patricia De Lille as provincial DA leader have taken their campaign to Facebook ahead of nominations on Wednesday.

Former Western Cape police boss‚ Lennit Max‚ housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela and DA City of Cape Town chief whip‚ Shaun August‚ are contesting for the position of interim party leader in the province. The election takes place on February 25 in Worcester.

However‚ a fierce contest is expected between Madikizela and August. The two men are said to be representing two influential blocks within the DA in the Western Cape.

  • DA missed 'straat meid' insults thrown at Van DammeThe Democratic Alliance did not come to the defence of its MP‚ Phumzile van Damme‚ when she was repeatedly called a "straat meid" because they simply did not hear the insult‚ the party said on Wednesday. 

Max’s Facebook posts have perhaps been the most colourful of the three. In a post‚ on Tuesday‚ he is photographed riding on a donkey cart‚ with the two donkeys bearing DA stickers on their foreheads.

 “Lennit Max - a man who is one of us - A leader of the people for the people! A people’s person. The right man for the Western Cape‚” read the caption. He also uploaded a pictures of himself with a DA logo.

  • 'Bossy' De Lille clashed with party's top leadersTensions between Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and powerful figures in the DA national leadership built up before her resignation as the party's Western Cape leader this week, numerous DA sources claim. 

It is captioned: “Together we can make a difference ...Honesty Integrity Efficiency Compassion Commitment”. On Wednesday‚ Madikizela - who is seen by some as a Helen Zille-backed candidate - wrote on the social media platform: "I've been privileged to work for the party under difficult circumstances‚ when it was suicidal to be a DA member in areas like Khayelitsha and Khayamandi [Stellenbosch].

  • Patricia de Lille resigns as DA Western Cape leaderPatricia de Lille has resigned as the Democratic Alliance's Western Cape leader‚ a move effective from February 1. She will stay on as Cape Town mayor. 

 I believe in this party‚ we must forge ahead with building unity‚ and promote diversity''.

He then asked party members for their support to “move the party forward.” August’s opted to use images of him being arrested when the party protested at Parliament on the day of the State of the Nation Address in 2015.“I do what is right‚ not what is easy‚” read the caption. In another picture‚ August is posed as an athlete ready to run a race.

 “I have fought for the rights and justice of fellow South Africans. As a leader‚ I will continue to do so and put our people first‚” another of his posts read.

- TMG Digital/The Times

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