DA admits receiving Kebble Donations

[.geek]

LOL I don't think the deeyay supporters know quite what to say really

 

[jontyB]

bunch of morons. Politicians are soo stupid

 

[Skeptik]

Funny how some folks are desperate to clutch on ANY news story that may cast a bad light on the opposition party. Almost as if they want to say "See, the DA is JUST AS BAD as the ANC "

The truth is that anybody can donate money to a political party. They don't look that closely at your business or financial history before accepting the funds. It's the same the world over.

What is illegal, however, is giving money to individual members of that party. Compare these new 'revelations' to the story about the ANC, where some comrades received a lot of cash. They're still 'looking into' that one.

I don't need to remind anyone of the Tony Yengeni saga. He got a car and cash. Now he's off to the klink. BTW, the same jail as before ... LOL

 

[ajak]

Getting donations is one thing,but it seems in the anc case it looks more like bribes

 

[Vrotappel]

Getting donations is one thing,but it seems in the anc case it looks more like bribes

Yep who protected Kebble and his tjommies from being investigated for tax fraud ...

 

[TELESPHORE]

Many years ago when I was still a young boy, my father used to buy both the English and Afrikaans Sunday papers. That was in the 1960’s. I still remember reading about Mr. X donating R200 to National party in the Afrikaans paper and the same Mr. X reported in the English paper donating R200 to the SAP’s. R200 is not much today, but then it was more than the average man’s salary x 2.

Back then people would manipulate politicians indirectly for favors later. Nothing changed over the years.

Kebble just had bigger R200 notes and was mastermindingly setting things up. In the remote chance he might need the DA, give them a token donation. Not big but enough to be able to get “close”.

 

[Debbie]

Um, tibby, HFGP, ajak - I was being serious when I said that democracy is a real beeeacth! Lol, you all have totally misread me!

Of course it is in the DA's best interests to get some credible, popular blacks guys and gals into their higher reaches. Of course I would welcome that, as I think many in SA would (political affiliation regardless).

When I said democracy's a beeeatch, I really meant that democracy is a b*tch sometimes! (I was refering to internal DA democratic processes, not our country's democratic status.

/tries not to speak poli sci terms in future

 

[Debbie]

The truth is that anybody can donate money to a political party. They don't look that closely at your business or financial history before accepting the funds. It's the same the world over.

Skeptic, it's not the same the world over. In some African, South American(?) and European countries political parties are entirely publicly funded. That means that 100% of their funds come from taxpayers in principle. Getting 'donations' is totally illegal in these countries.

I don't know why people want to scandalise this. Instead of saying, "oh, hey look, the DA was getting money from Kebble too" the situation is presented as "LOOK at the CORRUPTION! LOOK everyone, skanky political party at it again!" or worse, like skeptic rightly pointed out, "DA's just as bad as the ANC...". What utter rubbish!

Skeptic has it right when he says it's not illegal in SA. Remember last election when Standard Bank (?) gave 50 million to the ANC, 10 million to the DA, 1 million to the IFP, etc (I am guessing figures here, as I can't remember the exact figures). No one cried 'corruption' or 'scandal' then. No one was hauled off to jail for it. No one was investigated. There was no 'witch hunt' as to who was 'behind this'. There was a bit of a debate about how the funds had been allocated, but if I recall correctly no one of importance was ever entirely opposed to this Bank giving all the major parties a bit of cash.

Same thing here really. As far as I am aware, the DA never lied about it. If they had then that would be cause for scandal.

 

[kilo39]

And sadly this makes the majority of people simply ignore them.

Interesting to see the hysterical reaction from some of you. What I meant was - da is perceived (by other races) as a white party - which it isn't.

Plain fact: black people do not want to follow white people - we have nothing to contribute (as far as they are concerned) - therefore the DA should show what it preaches - with leadership people can relate to. And if the DA was so big on anti-racism (which it is) - its membership and leadership should reflect that... and the DA would be happier for it.

 

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

But the DA will never themselves be like the ANC and appoint token members to increase votes. They'll want the best person for the job.

Interesting that Joe Seremane is the 2nd most senior DA member though - http://www.da.org.za/da/Site/Eng/People/Leadership/Overview.asp so could he be a future leader?

 

[Darth Garth]

What I meant was - da is perceived (by other races) as a white party - which it isn't.

Their support base remains capped at less than 10% of the voters and does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the demographics of that.

 

[chiskop]

Interesting that Joe Seremane is the 2nd most senior DA member though - http://www.da.org.za/da/Site/Eng/People/Leadership/Overview.asp so could he be a future leader?

Could he? I see the DA every election massaging the numbers to show that they're not losing support. When is Tony Leon going to go? I have a lot of respect for some DA's, although as I type this I can really only think of Renette Taljaard who has since resigned from politics.

When the DA lose their combative stance, lose Tony Leon and Douglas Gibson, only then will they be a viable choice for the majority of the country.

 

[GavinMannion]

Could he? I see the DA every election massaging the numbers to show that they're not losing support. When is Tony Leon going to go? I have a lot of respect for some DA's, although as I type this I can really only think of Renette Taljaard who has since resigned from politics.

When the DA lose their combative stance, lose Tony Leon and Douglas Gibson, only then will they be a viable choice for the majority of the country.

I fully agree 100%. I will not vote DA until I see less "The ANC did not do this and this and this" and see more "We will offer this and this and this"...

The DA so far in my opinion has done nothing to improve the lives of South Africans where they run the municipality.

I'm all for a strong opposition but currently the DA is not that, time for Tony to pack his bags and give someone else a go.

If I was running a company and for the last 10 years had not grown my market share I would be replace, same thing.

 

[.geek]

Greyling said it was "intriguing" that the DA had managed to change its mind about the funding within hours - from when Selfe, the party's chair of the federal council, said that he was "not aware" of funding, as reported in the Sunday Times, to now being aware of some funding - amounting to R500 000.

That is interesting. If it's true of course..

 

[chiskop]

The truth is that anybody can donate money to a political party. They don't look that closely at your business or financial history before accepting the funds. It's the same the world over.

Thats absolutely true. I have no problem with individuals or companies making donations to whoever they want to support.

But I want to know what Kebble expected in exchange for his RX million to which ever party.

I do have a problem with it being kept quiet. I want to know who is supporting political parties, and with how much.

 

[Debbie]

Ah yes, the same James Selfe I asked about the DA's lack of prominant black men and women in the party. The same James Selfe I did a group interview with about two years ago, where he said he was not opposed to transparency in letting everyone know who was funding the DA, so long as:
A) Other political parties also disclose their funding sources; and
B) Those who do donate to the DA were made aware (before they donate) that their donation would be made public.
The same James Selfe who, as I understand it, would absoutely be aware that Kebble had donated the DA money (unless he has been living on anaother planet, from my perspective James Selfe is important enough in the DA to know these sorts of things).

People, please can all be aware that every political party except the DA and ANC are (on paper) in favour of greater transparency in political funding. It's a dog-eat-dog world!

 

[Dave A]

Maybe I missed this somewhere.

What was the DA reaction when it was revealed that Kebble had donated money to the ANC?

I'm not talking about the share intrigues related to individuals of the ANCYL etc. - but to the ANC as a political party.

 

[chiskop]

Robin Carlisle of the DA asked whether the ANC in the Western Cape intended to return the money.(09/08/06)

The Democratic Alliance has urged the African National Congress to "come clean" on allegations it has received millions of rands from murdered mining magnate Brett Kebble and his companies.(06/08/06)

When I was looking for these I came across a site: whofundswho.org.za which I'm looking at now - seems interesting.

And, just to be clear, I do not think that there is anything wrong with donating to a political party, as long as it is to the party rather than to an individual and there is no expectation of a quid pro quo.

Here, it seems that the DA was trying to score points off of the ANC, while at the same time recieving money from the same source.

 

[neio]

The double standards some political party's have are quite astounding.
I have never, nor will I ever, vote for the DA.

 

[Dave A]

Thanks chiskop. So far not as damning as it could have been. More tit for tat stuff. Maybe something giving more weighty evidence of double standards will come up - but in the meantime:

It seems a strong case could be made for legislation making donations to political parties a matter of public record if over a certain amount, say R1000.00.