DA could decide Kohler Barnard's fate on Tuesday

21 December 2015

Cape Town – Expelled Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler Barnard might know her fate as early as Tuesday. Or as late as January, depending on the panel that will be sitting to decide her future in the party on Tuesday. Kohler Barnard’s DA membership was terminated at the end of October, and last month she lodged a notice of intention to appeal the expulsion.

This was after she shared a Facebook post from journalist Paul Kirk, in which he praised former apartheid president PW Botha.

Defending her actions, Kohler Barnard said she did not read the post fully before sharing it.

The post said: "Please come back PW Botha - you were far more honest than any of these [African National Congress] rogues, and you provided a far better service to the public."

She pleaded guilty to misconduct, bringing the party into disrepute and not abiding by the party’s social media policy.

Her appeal was set down for two days in January 2016, but was brought forward to December 22 due to availability of members.

Chairperson of the DA's Federal Legal Commission, Glynnis Breytenbach, told News24 on Monday that they would try to finish in one day.

"But that depends on the panel. If they are unable to come to a decision at the end of the process tomorrow, then it might have to wait until next year."

This article first appeared via News24 – see here.