Claims DA practises cadre deployment nothing but 'whataboutery', says Steenhuisen
The DA has been accused of hypocrisy by the ANC - which says the party also deploys party loyalists to key positions where it governs.
DA leader John Steenhuisen in Pretoria on Tuesday, 6 September 2022 at the #CeleMustGo march.
CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said claims that his party also practises cadre deployment are nothing but “whataboutery”, adding that party has never interfered with key appointments.
On Friday, he said letters that were sent to DA mayors before he became the leader were to ensure that proper processes were followed and not to interfere in the process.
The DA has also given African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula until Saturday to release the full and unredacted records or it will ask the court to charge him with contempt.
ALSO READ: DA to Mbalula: Provide ANC's full cadre deployment records or face jail time
The DA has been accused of hypocrisy by the ANC - which says the party also deploys party loyalists to key positions where it governs.
The DA is accused of deploying its members to provincial entities and senior positions in the City of Cape Town.
But Steenhuisen said this was not the case.
"The whataboutery they’re attempting is frankly the last refuge of the scoundrel. So let me set the record straight and let me set it clear. Unlike the ANC there is and never will be a cadre deployment committee in the DA."
He explained why letters were sent to mayors by the party’s federal executive (FedEx) before he was appointed to the helm of the party.
"Before I became leader of DA, the DA FedEx requested mayors to inform it before making top-level appointments to ensure there was no deviation of recommendations of independent panels."
The party meanwhile, said it would be appealing this week’s high court judgment that dismissed its application to have cadre deployment declared unconstitutional.