Cape Town | Tuesday
HAVING fought publicly and stridently for over a week, Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon and his deputy Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Tuesday opted to meet privately in Cape Town in a bid to save their alliance.
Even their lieutenants remained tight-lipped, with one telling Sapa: “We don’t want the media camping outside.”
Another described the meeting as “very private”, while another said officials had been sworn to silence.
The two leaders have attacked each other publicly over axed unicity mayor Peter Marais’ treatment by the DA, leading to calls from the Democratic Party component of the alliance for Van Schalkwyk — the New National Party leader — to be disciplined.
Van Schalkwyk last week called for outside mediation to help reconcile the alliance’s warring sides, a call rejected by Leon.
Meanwhile, van Schalkwyk spent Monday consulting the NNP’s leadership and legal teams, in preparation of possible disciplinary action by DA, Business Day reports.
Van Schalkwyk criticised Leon last week, saying he was not willing to stand up for one individual (Marais) who was being treated unfairly. Leon responded that it was “deeply unfortunate” that a faction within the NNP was holding the most of the party hostage. Meanwhile, Marais is seeking a review of last Friday’s DA management decision to expel him from the party.
The expulsion meant he automatically lost his position as councillor and therefore his position as mayor.
Marais’ lawyers are expected to lodge papers in the Cape High Court on Tuesday, asking for a review of the DA’ decision to strip him of his DA membership. It is thought that the DA will defend the court challenge. The newspaper said the NNP had indicated it would not be paying Marais’ legal costs. – Sapa, DMG reporter ZA*NOW:
DA crises: caught between lies and allies October 19, 2001