Quinton Mtyala
Political Writer
CONTROVERSIAL politician Badih Chaaban has turned up as kingmaker in local politics again – this time in Oudtshoorn.
It has emerged that were it not for the refusal of DA leader Helen Zille to co-operate with the controversial leader of the National People’s Party (NPP), the DA could have been running this troubled municipality.
This according to Drewan Baird, the blogger and PR consultant, who drew up the statement released last week in which Chaaban threw his party’s support in the hung council behind the DA.
The NPP’s single vote would have given the DA and Cope a clear majority in the council.
But DA provincial leader Theuns Botha, asked whether the party would be prepared to work with Chaaban, said “no”.
“Because of the history (we’ve had with him),” Botha said.
“We don’t take government at all costs. We’ve had our experience with Badih Chaaban.”
Baird and Oudtshoorn businessman Nic Barrow had over several months engaged with Chaaban, trying to convince him to add his party’s single vote to that of the 11 DA councillors and one from Cope, to form a majority against the ANC.
But Botha was dismissive of the relationship they had built up with Chaaban saying: “If they like him so much, let him work with the ANC.
“They had lunch with him, we had an experience with him”.
Botha said Chaaban was not interested in governing. Asked to explain he said: “I would rather not”.
DA caucus leader in Oudtshoorn’s council, Chris MacPherson said whoever negotiated with Chaaban about forming a coalition had no power to do so.
“We had an instruction from our head office, that we couldn’t negotiate to form any coalitions. The Constituency Committee (who are members of the DA) had approached the NPP but had no right to negotiate on behalf of the DA,” MacPherson said.
Last week, Chaaban sent out a statement, saying he was willing to support the DA in Oudtshoorn after his experience with the ANC and their “disruptions” of council meetings in Bitou (Plettenberg Bay) and Oudtshoorn.
Contacted for comment, Chaaban replied in an SMS, saying: “We share the same ideology (with the ANC) in as far as uplifting the poor of South Africa and empowering the unempowered. We are a centre-left party, thus the ANC is our natural born ally and until the return of Jesus we’ll remain with the ANC.”
Baird said: “On July 25, when the statement was made, Chaaban was willing and happy to have it released.”
“On July 27, the DA’s Oudtshoorn caucus were in Cape Town for a meeting with Zille, (Local Government MEC Anton) Bredell and a lawyer,” Baird said.
It was at this meeting last week where the DA caucus was told that it would not be allowed to strike any deals with Chaaban.
“Subsequently, Chaaban was contacted by the ANC and made several offers, for his continued supporter,” Baird said.
Apart from the Speaker position, which on Wednesday was filled by Johan Stoffels, the NPP were also promised two directorships, along with the position of municipal manager.
But on Wednesday at an ANC press conference, regional secretary Putco Mapitiza threw a spanner in the works saying that the party would seek advice from the Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs should a new municipal manager be appointed.
quinton.mtyala@inl.co.za