Gaye Davis
National Party heavyweights were on Thursday working furiously behind the scenes to build consensus around Marthinus van Schalkwyk as the sole candidate to take over the reins from FW de Klerk and avert blood-letting between the old and new guards.
Van Schalkwyk (37) entered Parliament in 1990 as the member for Randburg. His rise in party ranks has been dramatic; as the party’s executive director he has functioned as De Klerk’s chief lieutenant.
Van Schalkwyk has the support of the party’s black caucus which, though small, wields an influence greater than its size in a party that predicates its future survival on its ability to attract black votes.
The most prominent of the black MPs in the party, Mpumalanga leader David Malatsi, was expected to come out in support of Van Schalkwyk after initially indicating a willingness to stand as a candidate in the leadership contest.
If Van Schalkwyk makes the cut when the NP’s electoral college sits on September 9, he will be expected to repay the trust and support of his black colleagues. ”He will have to put some of our people into decision-making positions,” a source said.
It is understood the black caucus will push for Malatsi to be made deputy leader of the party once Van Schalkwyk’s succession is assured. While the party’s constitution makes no provision for such a post, the rules will have to be changed to allow for making De Klerk honorary president. The thinking is that the post of deputy leader could be created then.
Malatsi was not prepared to speculate on this possibility, but indicated his willingness to serve as Van Schalkwyk’s deputy. A black-white tussle would not be in the party’s interests, and he was not interested ”in standing [as leader] just for the sake of standing”.
KwaZulu-Natal leader Danie Schutte was being tipped as most likely to offer a right-wing challenge to Van Schalkwyk. But his own province is said to be divided in its loyalty to him and he enjoys little support outside it. The black caucus is in any event resolutely opposed to any candidate who served under the old NP government, as are the reformers in its ranks.
While Van Schalkwyk’s public persona is less than dynamic and his profile still relatively slight, his abilities behind the scenes have won him wide support within the party. He will have time to grow into the position: one of De Klerk’s reasons for resigning now was precisely this.
Van Schalkwyk can be assured of the backing of the party’s youth wing and its Women’s Action delegates, as well as key provinces such as the Western Cape. Premier Hernus Kriel’s decision not to stand made sense in terms of the party’s bid to divorce itself from its past and Kriel’s secure position as leader of its power base. Western Cape MPs will back Van Schalkwyk.