DA MPL Nokonwaba Matikinca has resigned saying black people have a slim chance of making it into the DA leadership if they are uneducated, do not have a drivers’ licence, are computer illiterate and unable to write media releases.
DA provincial chairwoman and MPL Veliswa Mvenya said Matikinca resigned because she was recruiting DA members for the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
Matikinca, who joined the legislature after last year’s elections, said she failed to eradicate “racist practices” in the DA.
Mvenya said a number of DA members had complained that Matikinca’s was recruiting, and four wrote affidavits citing “evidence”.
Mvenya said: “When the party asked her to respond, she could not provide evidence. Instead, she claimed she was not wanted in the party. She opted to resign.”
Mvenya said she had not been happy in the party from the time the leadership line-up she opposed at the last year’s provincial conference won.
DA national chairman and Eastern Cape leader, Athol Trollip, denied Matinkinca’s claims saying Matikinca was a good example of the party’s campaign for an open opportunity society for all.
“When she joined the party she had no experience at all, could not write media statements and had no car. But she became our councillor in BCM. Within a year, we saw she has potential, but needed a lot of mentoring and support which we offered. She was capacitated and trained in making speeches, but trouble started when there were challenges in her constituency in the Alfred Nzo district. There were remedial steps she was suppose to implement, but she never did. As a result that constituency was placed under administration.”
UDM leader in the legislature Max Mhlathi, asked about Matikinca recruiting for the UDM, said: “We are not aware of that. In fact, we are not even in the picture in this and we should not be dragged into such. We have only heard that she was unhappy in the DA. However this shows that, because of our dreadful past, black people will never be comfortable in a party ruled by white people. These days blacks are being harnessed into joining white parties because people know that they can never rule this country without black people in their fold.”
Matikinca accused the DA affidavit writers of “lying”. She poured her heart out saying she resigned because of racism.
She said a black DA member who wanted to contest for a by-election in BCM, “was told in his ears, in my presence, that the people of that particular ward, were not ready for a black leader”.
“The DA is an open opportunity society for some only. There is no transformation programme in the party for those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. People are scared of speaking out.”
Mvenya said the party will soon advertise for Matikinca’s vacancy. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
DA MPL Matikinca quits in a huff
DA provincial chairwoman and MPL Veliswa Mvenya said Matikinca resigned because she was recruiting DA members for the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
Matikinca, who joined the legislature after last year’s elections, said she failed to eradicate “racist practices” in the DA.
Mvenya said a number of DA members had complained that Matikinca’s was recruiting, and four wrote affidavits citing “evidence”.
Mvenya said: “When the party asked her to respond, she could not provide evidence. Instead, she claimed she was not wanted in the party. She opted to resign.”
Mvenya said she had not been happy in the party from the time the leadership line-up she opposed at the last year’s provincial conference won.
DA national chairman and Eastern Cape leader, Athol Trollip, denied Matinkinca’s claims saying Matikinca was a good example of the party’s campaign for an open opportunity society for all.
“When she joined the party she had no experience at all, could not write media statements and had no car. But she became our councillor in BCM. Within a year, we saw she has potential, but needed a lot of mentoring and support which we offered. She was capacitated and trained in making speeches, but trouble started when there were challenges in her constituency in the Alfred Nzo district. There were remedial steps she was suppose to implement, but she never did. As a result that constituency was placed under administration.”
UDM leader in the legislature Max Mhlathi, asked about Matikinca recruiting for the UDM, said: “We are not aware of that. In fact, we are not even in the picture in this and we should not be dragged into such. We have only heard that she was unhappy in the DA. However this shows that, because of our dreadful past, black people will never be comfortable in a party ruled by white people. These days blacks are being harnessed into joining white parties because people know that they can never rule this country without black people in their fold.”
Matikinca accused the DA affidavit writers of “lying”. She poured her heart out saying she resigned because of racism.
She said a black DA member who wanted to contest for a by-election in BCM, “was told in his ears, in my presence, that the people of that particular ward, were not ready for a black leader”.
“The DA is an open opportunity society for some only. There is no transformation programme in the party for those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. People are scared of speaking out.”
Mvenya said the party will soon advertise for Matikinca’s vacancy. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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