Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Ramphele debacle won't harm DA - Zille

DA leader Helen Zille, who has been confirmed as the DA's presidential candidate, says her party's short-lived alliance with Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele will not harm its chances in the upcoming elections. According to the Cape Times, Zille said the aborted merger will benefit the DA and cost Ramphele's party more votes. The DA will gain one or two percent of the national vote because Agang is gone, Zille reportedly said.

Moved on
She added that the DA had moved on from what had been an embarrassing episode for both parties, and that the failed deal with Ramphele had not caused any ructions in the party. Zille failed to rule out further talks with Ramphele, saying she never say never, but DA officials told the Cape Times that the DA is "over Ramphele".

Meanwhile, Beeld reported on Tuesday that the DA federal council over the weekend had placed Zille at the top of the party's election list. In terms of the DA's constitution, the party leader is entitled to occupy the first position on the candidate lists. The constitution also makes provision for the party leader to be a premier or mayoral candidate. Despite the failed deal with Ramphele, DA officials accepted Zille's detailed explanation of the move, and were reportedly keen to guard against uncertainty ahead of the May elections, unanimously endorsed Zille as the party's presidential candidate.



Source: News24

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