GARETH VAN ONSELEN: The DA’s coming struggle
If the party continues to grow with each election, it is likely that factions will begin to emerge to compete for positions. This is not just a challenge to be overcome but a chance to set a healthy precedent
The DA has made great strides since 1994. Back then, its forebear, the Democratic Party (DP), managed just 1.7% of the vote. In 2014, its percentage stood at 22.3%. It now governs a province, four metros and a range of local municipal governments. Come 2019, it will be aiming to breach the 30% barrier in the national elections. Electoral growth is generally how the public measures the success of a political party. What they don’t see is how that growth is mirrored organisationally or the problems that typically accompany it. There are the more obvious challenges. Running governments, for example — ensuring a coherent and consistent programme of action and delivering outcomes — necessitates much consultation. When a number of those governments rely on coalitions, the political maths involved becomes all the more complex. Likewise, human resources need to be managed — an ever-growing and more diverse staff complement. In short, the hard infrastructure of any growing organisation becom...
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