The Falsehoods...

Great title for Who’s-the-true-liberal docu-drama series @Our_DA is starring in post exit-stage-left of @MmusiMaimane & @HermanMashaba

Make no mistake @GwenNgwenya is an articulate script writer who is using her pen to great effect.

But... (a thread) https://twitter.com/gwenngwenya/status/1199920023806136321

Gwen’s point has merit: judge me by my value-set not by an off the shelf label.

But... if content is king then context is queen

DA’s publicity machine has kicked into high gear post @helenzille /Steenhuisen’s/Gwen’s (s)election to put a positive spin on DA 2.0

John’s been interviewed by everyone & their taxi driving cat in last 2 weeks.

Prof @ChristivdWest “white denialism - missed opportunity” piece had a response within 5 days from @zakhelembhele claiming strawmen, slight regressions & that DA isn’t blind to history, context & race

Gwen’s was a next day response to @ismaillagardien piece in which he argues that DA 2.0 has been “cognitively captured” by the “classical liberals”.

Ismail uses the term “white heteronormativity” to explain the DA 2.0 reboot along “west-is-best” lines.

Both Christi & Ismail are making a point abt mindset. About how new DA leadership are consistently espousing a “liberal” value set that upholds/reinforces/protects what many term: “whiteness”.

That whiteness isn’t just abt skin colour, but abt Western rationality & privilege...

... And that the DA is blind to that western-white mindset & how it’s perceived beyond the “classical” echo chamber

Exhibit # 1: John S comes to NMB & addresses a packed Walmer Town Hall? Is it fair to judge the DA by the homogeneity of the crowd?

Exhibit #2: The City of CT is in court on the issue of social housing in the center of Cape Town. Both WC Province & CoCT is run by the DA

Is it fair to judge the DA by its inner city social housing non-performance?

Exhibit 3: Gwen’s appointment.

Gwen resigned in final approach to 2019 elections. Not an amicable nor private departure.

She’s back, off basis that given short period until DA policy conf there’s no time to waste & she’s thus best fit.

But only 1 candidate = meritocracy?

And therein the rub. Does the DA say one thing but do another? And what does that “another” point to?

Helen Suzman & F Van Zyl Slabbert took principled stands. Their’s was not a path of political expedience.

For e.g. Van Zyl resigned Parly to then start up IDASA with Alex Boraine & chair Soros’s Open Society in SA. He made the Dakar Talks (a critical dialogue) happen.

Would the supporters of Helen today support the likes of Van Zyl?

DA has chosen a path. 2021 will be the test.