The Democratic Alliance (DA) will most certainly be examining its internal structures, in search of the root cause to what’s been touted as the ‘black exodus’, following the resignation announcement made by long-serving member Mbali Ntuli.
Why is Mbali Ntuli leaving the DA?
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Ntuli recalled the 15 years she dedicated to growing the foundations of the DA’s support base, from the early periods of her political career when she served as a young leader setting up chapters at Rhodes University and tertiary institutions in other provinces, to the groundbreaking work she led in increasing the opposition party’s presence in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) wards that, before her tenure, were inaccessible to the ‘Blues’.
“The highlight of my time in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature has been the number of rewarding campaigns that have brought awareness to issues across Education, Social Development, Public Participation and Petitions, COGTA, and Public Works – leading to my growth as a legislator and political leader,” she reflected.
Careful to not traverse into the messy aspect of her resignation, Ntuli noted that despite ongoing tensions between higher-ups in the DA — herself included, perhaps? — she vacates her position as a member of the political party, including her seat in the KZN legislature, “with a deep sense of compassion for those of you who will remain.”
“My colleagues in the DA know better than most the difficult and relentless challenges I have faced in the party, in part because so many have played out in the public domain, but also because our party (like any other organisation) is not immune to gossip. I don’t wish to rehash any of these challenges, which are publicly known and have been raised internally on numerous occasions.
“I have been forthright about instances where the DA has erred in its treatment of its members and the negative culture that is fostered within the organization – my opposition of which formed part of my year-long campaign for DA Leader in 2020,” Mbali Ntuli wrote.
Phumzile Van Damme reacts to Ntuli resignation
Ntuli joins a growing list of long-serving black political leaders who, since John Steenhuisen was anointed as federal head, have exited the main opposition party.
Phumzile Van Damme left the DA with guns blazing. Bongani Baloyi caused a stir within political circles in January 2022 when he ditched the DA to join his fellow comrade Herman Mashaba at ActionSA.
Mashaba, by the way, sent shockwaves in 2019 when he tendered his resignation and left the party. Before that, former leader Mmusi Maimane also took the high road in what turned out to be a messy breakup.
Lindiwe Mazibuko, who resigned from the political party in 2014, told eNCA in an interview that the ‘black’ exodus was the direct result of the DA being “captured by a certain faction.”
“It is quite clear that there’s quite an exodus of some of the most talented people in that organisation. It is captured by a certain faction.
“I think there is a challenge in opposition where there are dominant factions who challenge for power and leadership. My view is that the opposition is in crisis to challenge the status quo,” Mazibuko said at the time.
Van Damme, reacting to Ntuli’s resignation, echoed similar sentiments, but this time, she directed her words to Steenhuisen.
“Now tell everyone that talented young black people aren’t bullied & sidelined for the only reason of being a threat to you. No one believes you. Your “enemy” may be gone but you are the loser. And please don’t roll out the latest Great Hope whose neck you’ll cut soon enough,” she wrote in a tweet.