DA top brass in PE for talks as senior leaders clash

‘You know the story about the bribery? It shows that I’m in trouble because if someone is digging something just to get rid of you, that is trouble on its own’

THE DA’s top leadership is expected to hold critical talks in Nelson Mandela Bay today in an attempt to quell tensions between two of its most senior Eastern Cape leaders, Athol Trollip and Veliswa Mvenya.

Party leader Mmusi Maimane and federal council chairman James Selfe will attend an extended provincial executive committee meeting today at the DA’s Havelock Street offices where the rift between the two, and others, is expected to be discussed.

Selfe was scheduled to meet Mvenya last night to discuss the mounting tensions between her and Trollip.

They follow a bribery claim by a Bay party member, Nontuthuzelo Jack, who told Weekend Post’s sister publication the Daily Dispatch that Trollip had offered her money to work with his faction to “dig up dirt” on Mvenya.

Trollip vehemently rejected what he called “spurious allegations”.

While there has been talk that Mvenya laid an official complaint against Trollip with the national bosses, she said it was not true.

Asked if there was indeed tension between her and Trollip, Mvenya paused and said, “yes, there is”.

Asked what she believed was behind the clash, Mvenya said “I’m in trouble already . . . so I’m not willing to say.

“You know the story about the bribery? It shows that I’m in trouble because if someone is digging something just to get rid of you, that is trouble on its own”.

Selfe said part of the main reasons for his trip to Port Elizabeth was to meet with Mvenya and discuss the various media reports.

“I’m not sure what my programme is going to be like. I’m coming at the request of Ms Mvenya,” Selfe said.

He confirmed that he would attend the extended PEC meeting, but he could not say if the impasse would be discussed.

“I have not yet had the opportunity to speak to Ms Mvenya, except for on the telephone, as she’s been in New York. And part of the reasons I’m going to Port Elizabeth is to speak to her personally.”

Today’s meeting comes after months of displays of divisions within the Bay DA and an upset within the party’s caucus.

Three councillors have been expelled by the party, but the membership of one of them –Knight Mali – was restored by the Port Elizabeth High Court.

Many councillors are furious that they did not make the cut to come back after the local government elections.

Several members have spoken out publicly against leaders in the party, accusing them of witch-hunts, racism and bullying tactics. These have been previously rejected by Trollip.

Asked if she believed Jack’s claims to be true, Mvenya said: “I can’t say I do or I don’t; it depends on the investigation because the way you heard it is the way I heard it. We were not there.”

DA national spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme, who responded to questions on behalf of Trollip, confirmed that both Maimane and Selfe would attend today’s meeting.

She would not say if the Mvenya and Trollip spat would be on the agenda.

Asked about the tension between Trollip and Mvenya, Van Damme said: “Athol has not seen or spoken to Ms Mvenya for some time as she has been overseas on provincial legislature business”.

Van Damme rejected claims that there was a plot by Trollip to dig up dirt on Mvenya.

Meanwhile on Thursday Van Damme confirmed that the party leadership was investigating the various allegations.

Asked what the party thought of what appeared to be an implosion within the DA in the Bay under Trollip’s leadership, Van Damme said: “The DA’s growth in NMB is not only in support from voters, but also in the number of people wanting to join and serve as public representatives of the DA. Never before has the DA in NMB received as many candidate applications as for this year’s 2016 municipal election.

“With this level of unprecedented and fierce competition, it is understandable that there will be some disappointed people.

“Disappointment is an unavoidable fact of life, and certainly not a sign of implosion.”

She said the party had full confidence in Trollip’s leadership, as he was an “exemplary and excellent leader”.