ANGELA QUINTAL, Cape Town | Sunday
AFTER more than 10 years in the New National Party and three years as Western Cape Premier, Gerald Morkel, on Saturday jumped ship, but denied he was pushed.
Morkel chose to do so in the NNP’s coloured heartland of Mitchell’s Plain, in front of a small, but vocal group of supporters.
His resignation as premier and NNP provincial leader takes effect from close of business Monday.
Morkel faced a palace revolution earlier in the week when four of his MECs asked him to resign, saying they wanted to spare him the embarrassment of a vote of no confidence by his party and in the legislature itself.
This, after he publicly opposed the NNP leadership’s decision to withdraw from the Democratic Alliance in favour of co-operation with the African National Congress.
Morkel committed himself instead to the DA, of which he was elected provincial leader in June last year.
Sources close to NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said it was likely that the party’s most senior MEC Cecil Herandien would be appointed acting premier.
NNP MP Cobus Dowry, NNP deputy provincial leader Peter Marais and provincial speaker Willem Doman are the front runners for provincial leader.
Among NNP MECs likely to find themselves without a job are Constitutional Affairs MEC Audrey van Zyl and Finance MEC Leon Markovitz who aligned themselves with Morkel.
Local government MEC Pierre Uys — who is one of three NNP deputy provincial leaders — is also apparently on his way out, because of his alleged double role.
It is unlikely that a permanent premier will be elected before the NNP’s co-operative governance deal with the ANC is finalised, as this could result in a complete re-deployment of NNP and ANC leaders.
In his reaction, DA leader Tony Leon praised Morkel as a man of honour and conviction, who had not broken faith with the voters.
Morkel’s speech was “the single most important speech by a National Party politician since FW de Klerk’s speech on the 2nd of February 1990”.
“It is a clarion call of honesty, principle and purpose. It will galvanise the Democratic Alliance and its people.”
In his speech, Morkel accused NNP leaders of embarking on a path of betrayal.
“The duty of an opposition is to oppose, not to crawl greedily into the bed of one’s enemy simply because it offers temporary warmth and comfort.”
There were times in politics “when you must be on the right side and because of that, pay a price,” Morkel said.
At the heart of the current crisis was the fact that the NNP’s federal council had not consulted about the withdrawal.
It would have been easy for him to say nothing, to remain silent as his conscience rebelled, and retain his position as premier, Morkel said.
“But I am not prepared to become a tame coloured in order to feed the personal appetite of others for position and privilege.
The planned introduction of legislation to strong-arm elected councillors to cross the floor was a moral scandal.
Not since JG Strijdom packed the Senate in 1956, in order to remove coloureds from the common voters’ roll, had there been a more wicked attempt to undermine democracy.
“I will have nothing to do with it. For office, without honour, is the jailhouse of the political harlot.”
Morkel denied he was leaving under pressure.
“I am taking this step because I believe it to be right, because I believe it is the only honest route I can follow, and because principle dictates that I take a stand.”
He was supported by DA unicity speaker Danny de La Cruz, as well as Education MEC Helen Zille and DA National Management Committee chairman James Selfe.
De la Cruz said it was not a time to shed tears.
“We didn’t come here for a funeral. Today is the start of new beginning. Gerald Morkel has made up his mind. Gerald Morkel is going the way of the DA.”
Turning to the crowd he asked: “Which way are you going?”.
They responded with a resounding “DA!”
Morkel’s DA councillor son, Kent, was also present, although another son, Craig — an NNP MP — opted to wait outside.
Craig Morkel said he had no plans to leave the NNP yet, and would first seek a mandate from those who elected him once the NNP/ANC deal was finalised.
Meanwhile, the NNP said Morkel had no other choice but to resign.
“He became an instrument in the hands of the DP (Democratic Party) spin-doctors and ceased to be his own man,” It had become increasingly clear that Morkel had lost touch with his own party and supporters, the party said.
Morkel had always been a valued colleague, but during the last few weeks things went seriously wrong when he changed his mind at least four times on the decision of the NNP Federal Council to withdraw from the DA. – Sapa
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