DA leader John Steenhuisen. (Photo by Jeffrey Abrahams/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
Knives have been drawn in the battle for the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) leadership after incumbent leader John Steenhuisen accused contender Mpho Phalatse’s campaign of making false allegations that he misappropriated donor funding for his benefit.
Phalatse’s campaign is said to have written to the party’s federal council chair, Helen Zille, alleging that Steenhuisen was not a member in good standing and therefore ineligible to contest.
In a letter sent by Steenhuisen’s lawyer, Michael Bagraim, and seen by Mail & Guardian, the DA leader in turn accused Phalaste’s campaign manager Solomon Maile of leaking information to the media in an attempt to bring his name into disrepute.
This was after Maile allegedly wrote to Zille on behalf of Phalatse’s campaign, claiming that Steenhuisen was facing serious allegations of financial misconduct before the federal legal commission. Steenhuisen has denied this.
In his letter dated 23 March, Steenhuisen claimed that Maile had told Zille that he had personally benefited from funds raised on behalf of the party’s Johannesburg South constituency. Steenhuisen’s lawyers said they were taking instructions on the defamatory nature of Maile’s statement and reserved the rights to claim damages in due course.
Steenhuisen said Maile’s letter to Zille was designed to demean him and besmirch his good name. He claimed there was no basis for any of Maile’s allegations, asserting that they were specifically designed in a negative manner to harm his good name and his standing within the party.
“We have been instructed to demand from you, as we hereby do, that you let us have the names of these sources so that we can take action against them in due course. We have noted that you have received a letter from the Democratic Alliance that in fact there is no complaint or verdict against Steenhuisen,” the letter stated.
Steenhuisen will be going up against Phalatse next weekend when the party elects new leadership. The two are set to have a debate on their vision for the party on Monday.
Steenhuisen has received the backing of many provincial leaders and prominent DA leaders.
This is a make-or-break election for the DA, as the party leader that emerges from it could be charged with assessing whether a coalition with the ruling ANC is possible after 2024 general elections.
Steenhuisen has in the past not ruled out working with President Cyril Ramaphosa, while Phalatse urged the party to look at a working relationship with the Economic Freedom Fighters during her time as Johannesburg mayor.
Both Steenhuisen and Phalatse refused to comment on the donor funding spat, while Maile said he was restricted from responding to questions owing to internal election rules.
Maile said clause 4.5.3 of the DA’s standards of conduct relating to internal elections prohibits candidates or their supporters from divulging internal party information related to the party’s finances and other activities.
“That means I am not in a position to comment on some of your questions. That said, however, we can categorically state that no member of the Phalatse campaign has ever leaked any information on the campaign to any journalist or Sunday papers,” he said.
Steenhuisen demanded that Maile withdraw the allegations with immediate effect.
“We expect to see a withdrawal of these allegations and the contents of your letter by email by 12pm tomorrow Friday, 24 March,” the letter sent by his lawyer said.
He also claimed that two members of the Phalatse campaign team had made these allegations to the Sunday Times.
“We are in the process of computing damages and shall revert to you in this regard. Over and above this, our client has instructed us that there have been certain utterances made by the Phalatse campaign team which were designed to bring the Democratic Alliance into disrepute. To this end we are in the process of taking instructions with regard to a complaint to the federal legal commission,” the letter said.
Federal legal commission head Glynnis Breytenbach also declined to comment.
Steenhuisen may also sue Maile for legal costs, saying in the letter that he would advise on the quantum of damages.
“To this end our client will be incurring enormous legal expenses which in due course will be for your client’s account. The quantum of damages will be relayed to you in due course which, once again, will be for your client’s account,” the letter said.