Danger in electing Zille, Trollip as DA federal council chair – analyst
Political analyst Theo Venter doesn’t believe it would necessarily be in the best interest of the Democratic Alliance (DA) for either Helen Zille or Athol Trollip to be elected as chair of the party’s federal council.
Zille and Trollip, together with Thomas Walters and Mike Waters, are vying for the position left vacant by James Selfe.
The party’s two-day federal council at the weekend will see Selfe will give up a position he has held for some 20 years.
The election comes amid pressure from certain sections of the party on leader Mmusi Maimane to step down following the DA’s poor performance during this year’s general elections.
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The party’s organisational review panel is expected to table a report on Saturday, examining how the DA lost voter support during the elections. It will also recommend the direction the party should take in future.
Venter predicts that while either Zille or Trollip will become the new chair, it won’t necessarily be the right choice.
He says the party doesn’t need a leader who could overshadow Maimane.
"Because that's the danger with both Trollip and Zille, to overshadow Mmusi Maimane. It rather needs a leader or a federal chairperson that facilitates change. Then you talk about Walters or Walter.
“So I don't rule them out completely. There may be a role for them developing over the weekend."
Venter says and Zille and Trollip are equally strong candidates, but also equally negative to Maimane’s political profile.
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