In Focus

Ramulifho rubbishes claims of racial influence in Mazzone case

Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng MPL, Khume Ramulifho, says his objection to Natasha Mazzone assuming the second deputy chairperson role is not about race.

Ramulifho told Political Analysis South Africa on Tuesday, 17 April 2018 that the issues he raised about Mazzone’s appointment are about the “principle and not about the person.”

“No, this is not a race issue this is just a thing of principle…so there’s no race attached to it. This is just to say this is what the constitution is saying and this is what we’re all expected to adhere to,” he said.

On 15 April 2018, the Sunday Times reported that Mazzone was allegedly appointed to the position of second deputy federal chairperson without being elected. Ramulifho reportedly then wrote to the party’s federal chairperson, James Selfe and objected to the appointment.

Selfe has denied that Mazzone was appointed, saying she was elected via single transferable vote by party delegates during the DA’s federal congress held on 7 and 8 April 2018.

Ramulifho said that he and other members who have raised similar issues with the party’s leadership will be having discussions with the party’s chairperson in order to carve a way forward.

“We’re having engagement with the chairperson. Next week, possibly he agreed we’ll have a meeting to actually clarify this issue,” he said.

“There are other people who are raising the principle issue so we’ll have to first see where this matter will be then if this matter has to go to court they are prepared to join hands and make sure that this thing gets challenged,” he added.