In a statement, the DA leader says
Agang SA leader has demonstrated that she can't be trusted to see a project
through to its conclusion.
Statement issued by DA leader,
Helen Zille, February 2 2014:
The Democratic Alliance leadership team today met
with Dr Ramphele to finalise the terms of our agreement that she stand as the
DA’s Presidential Candidate. This was to be the formalisation of the public
announcement made on Tuesday last week.
At the meeting, Dr Ramphele reneged on the
agreement that she stand as the DA’s Presidential Candidate, and that Agang
SA’s branches, members and volunteers be incorporated into the DA. This
about-turn will come as a disappointment to the many South Africans who were
inspired by what could have been a historic partnership.
It is rare indeed for a political party to offer
the position of presidential candidate to a leader from another party, but we
believed this move would be in the best interests of South Africa. People are
looking for a strong and united alternative to Jacob Zuma’s ANC, and we felt
that Dr Ramphele would help us speed up the realignment of politics.
Constitutionally, she could only go to Parliament as the DA’s
Presidential Candidate if she is a member of the DA.
The DA negotiated with Dr Ramphele in good faith.
Indeed she is a long-time personal friend of mine and I sought to bring her
into politics over many years. We have been through many false starts,
but when Dr Ramphele insisted on Monday that we go public on
Tuesday to announce her acceptance of our offer of the DA’s presidential
candidacy, we accepted that she had finally made up her mind.
By going back on the deal, again, just five days
after it was announced, Dr Ramphele has demonstrated – once and for all – that
she cannot be trusted to see any project through to its conclusion. This is a
great pity.
Since Tuesday’s announcement, Dr Ramphele has been
playing a game of cat and mouse – telling the media one thing, Agang supporters
another thing, and the DA another. It is not clear what her objective is,
but whatever it is, it is not in the interests of the South African people.
The DA will nevertheless continue with its historic
mission to build a non-racial political alternative in South Africa. We have
the values, we have the structures, we have the machinery and we have the depth
of leadership to succeed.
Developing...
Photo by Reuters.
Source: Daily Maverick...
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