Carl Niehaus weighs in on allegations surrounding the DA’s relationship with Consulum.
Recent revelations about the Democratic Alliance’s relationship with the Dubai-based public relations and advisory firm Consulum have left me deeply alarmed. The party paid more than R7.7 million to this foreign company to manage and coordinate critical aspects of its operations inside the Government of National Unity.
At the centre of this arrangement was Ryan Coetzee, then Chief Executive Officer of Consulum, a former DA Member of Parliament and long-time strategist for the party. Coetzee was given extraordinary access and authority. He played a central role in the DA’s GNU negotiations, drafted key framework documents, represented the party in sensitive back-channel discussions, chaired meetings of the DA’s GNU caucus, trained political staff, developed strategies for DA ministers and deputy ministers, and worked directly with chiefs of staff across the full range of government portfolios.
I am not writing about this as an abstract observer. During the years that I was still a member of the African National Congress, I served for a considerable period as the National Spokesperson of the organisation. That was, of course, before I resigned from the ANC and later joined the Economic Freedom Fighters.
