DA Federal Council to hold its national elective congress virtually in October is likely to be opposed by the majority of its black member.
They have mentioned the issue of lack of Internet access to attended the conference.
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Party leaders and members yesterday expressed mixed reactions after the decision was communicated to provincial.
As the local leaders to allow them to prepare for the virtual national congress.
Detailing their decision, DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille said the federal executive had resolved that the chair of the Federal Council, as well as the chief operations officer Liana van Wyk, prepare a detailed proposal on plans for holding an elective congress via an accessible.
A secure digital platform with systems in place to ensure that every delegate participates fully and fairly.
She added that they would submit a proposal for scrutiny and ratification at the party’s online Federal Council meeting in July.
“Since the start of the lockdown, the DA has been busy transferring its systems to digital platforms.
By the time we hold the elective congress, almost every major party function will be operating online, and the process of adaptation continues,” Zille said.
While a final decision is yet to be made, some of the senior party insiders said the incumbent DA interim leader John Steenhuisen would have an upper-hand against two other contenders for the post, Gauteng’s John Moodey and Mbali Ntuli in KwaZulu- Natal.
“It will favour John Steenhuisen. He is already the face of the party during the lockdown and in other public platforms.
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“He has captured the party’s communication machinery,” one of the insiders said.
All provincial leaders are expected to consult their members about the decision and make preparations for the congress.
