[ad_1]
No hugs, phone calls or messages from the recently elected Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has apparently left DA MPL Mbali Ntuli dejected.
Having lost the political contest against Steenhuisen for the head of the party at DA’s weekend elective congress, Ntuli confirmed that The citizen that the new leader has not approached her.
Putting on a brave face amid signs of being obviously uneasy after a hard-hitting battle that saw her rival voted for the party’s highest office by 80%, Ntuli yesterday only said: “I feel good… happy. I can confirm that he (Steenhuisen) has not contacted me yet. I think he’s very busy. I could continue with the work that needs to be done between now and the 2021 local government elections, ”Ntuli said, avoiding giving detailed answers.
She added: “I was competing against someone who was a headline actor, a nine-month campaign. It was not a disappointment that he did not get the position. It was also the first time that DA has had an electronic voting system and a virtual congress.
“I am very proud of myself and my campaign team.”
Steenhuisen was not available for comment.
Having endured criticism in the run-up to the congress of former chief prosecutor Douglas Gibson, who called Ntuli “young,” he said he preferred not to respond to his criticism.
Gibson, who made public his support for the “mature” and “experienced” Steenhuisen, said in a radio interview: “You don’t send your third team to test in rugby, you put your first team.
“I think Mbali, nice as she is, smart as she is, good as she is, she’s a little early.”
Gibson referred to the previous terms of former DA Mmusi Maimane and former parliamentary director Lindiwe Mazibuko as “failures.” When asked about his future, Ntuli said: “Nobody knows what the future holds, but I feel good. I’m fine with everyone.
“I will be doing my job that I was elected to serve the people of KZN (KwaZulu-Natal) and play a role in the legislature.”
Commenting on Steenhuisen’s inability to recognize Ntuli after the party leadership race, Dr. Mazwe Majola of the World Institute for Leadership and Development said that great leaders “were not afraid of competition and collaboration.”
“They respect and accept diversity and inclusion, learning from their supporters and rivals. They have a rare ability to handle pressure and vituperation. It is very regrettable and deplorable that John Steenhuisen has not recognized or approached his rival, Mbali Ntuli, ”said Majola.
He described the current atmosphere between Steenhuisen and Ntuli as “ruinous and disastrous for the DA”.
“This is super self-destructive. It establishes and consolidates divisions and factionalism within the party. Steenhuisen must grow. As the leader of the party, you are expected to build, maintain and maintain unity and cohesion.
“Great leadership requires the ability to read, interpret and understand times and situations. Leadership is about adaptability and change, ”Majola said.
For more news your way, download The Citizen app to ios Y Android.
[ad_2]
