Ex-leaders expose DA’s ‘hypocrisy’ on cadre deployment

Former DA leaders have come out to slam the official opposition over its ‘hypocrisy’ on cadre deployment.

The DA has been locked in a legal battle with the ANC in a bid to declare the governing party’s cadre deployment policy unconstitutional and invalid.

Former DA leader, Bongani Baloyi, however says the official opposition can’t be against a policy it pratices.

He has called on the party to release its FEDEX documents, which he alleges are no different to the ANC’s cadre deployment policy.

Baloyi, who left the main opposition party last year to form his own Xiluva, has taken to social media, labelling the DA as dishonest.

He says when he was the mayor of Midvaal between 2013-2021, the municipality couldn’t conclude a senior staff appointment without the approval of FEDEX.

“It was standard procedure that the mayors applied at the accrual of FEDEX before the municipality would conclude the appointment. This practice hasn’t changed and if they have nothing to hide, they must release the minutes of FEDEX and you will see that they practice the same cadre deployment that the ANC practices.”

It is true that the Democratic Alliance practice cadre deployment. When I was Mayor of Midvaal between 2013-2021, the municipality couldn’t conclude a senior staff appointment without the APPROVAL of FEDEX.

It was standard procedure that all Mayors apply to get the approval of…

— Bongani Baloyi (@BonganiBaloyiBB) February 22, 2024

Herman Mashaba, who is now the leader of ActionSA, says he also experienced political interference to key appointments from DA leaders during his tenure as the mayor of Johannesburg.

“They tried but they would never get it from Herman Mashaba. They would try to really get involved in the selection but I made it abundantly clear that this is not a party matter, this is an administrative matter.”

“They tried but I’d never allow them,” he adds.

Mmusi Maimane has also weighed in.

‼️Media Statement‼️

We challenge Helen Zille to release documents on DA’s own cadre deployment. pic.twitter.com/nvcA80w3VI

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) February 23, 2024

Earlier this week, the High Court in Pretoria dismissed the DA’s application against the ANC’s policy with costs.

The DA is of the view that cadre deployment gave a breeding ground for state capture in the country.

The party led by John Steenhuisen has been furnished with the ANC’s cadre deployment minutes as per a Constitutional Court order.

However, the party is now planning to launch a contempt of court application against the governing ANC.

Steenhuisen says they are looking to obtain copies of the emails and WhatsApp messages relevant to the period of 2013-2018 when President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chairperson of the party’s deployment committee.

ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, has rubbished the DA’s move as n attempt to declare transformation unlawful and unconstitutional.

He has accused the DA of being profoundly dishonest and misleading the public in presenting itself as a party that does not deploy its members into the public service.

Mbalula says this is evident in the City of Tshwane and the Western Cape where the official opposition governs.