Quick Read
- Karabo Khakhau was disqualified from the DA Deputy Chairperson race over a disputed R4,250 tithe payment.
- The MP insists the debt was settled promptly and claims the party is applying financial vetting inconsistently.
- The disqualification removes a key voice for youth and ancillary structure reform ahead of next month’s federal congress.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Karabo Khakhau has been disqualified from the party’s race for Deputy Chairperson of the Federal Council, a decision she contends is rooted in inconsistent internal vetting. The disqualification, which forces her withdrawal from next month’s federal congress, centers on a dispute regarding a R4,250 monthly tithe payment that the party claims remained outstanding.
The tithe dispute and disqualification
Khakhau, who serves as a national spokesperson for the party, announced her forced withdrawal on Saturday. According to the MP, the conflict originated from a missed tithe payment in July 2025. Khakhau maintains that she settled the balance within 24 hours of receiving a formal demand from the Free State Provincial Director. Despite providing proof of payment for the July arrears along with her October contributions, the Free State Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) declined to issue her a letter of good financial standing. This decision was subsequently upheld by the party’s federal executive (FedEx).
Internal vetting and party dynamics
The DA maintains that its internal processes are standard and that Khakhau failed to meet the specific requirements necessary to stand as a candidate. DA federal congress spokesperson Nazley Sharif confirmed to EWN that the party applied its internal election rules consistently, though the party has declined to provide further granular detail regarding the rejection of Khakhau’s financial status. For her part, Khakhau has alleged that the party has historically permitted other leaders in similar financial standing situations to participate in past congresses, suggesting an uneven application of eligibility criteria.
Political stakes for the Federal Congress
The exclusion of Khakhau removes a vocal proponent of party ancillary structures from the upcoming leadership contest at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. Khakhau, who had positioned her campaign around the modernization of party organization and outreach, warned that the party’s future electoral success remains tied to its ability to retain support among young, black female voters. Her exit leaves the race for the Deputy Chairperson role to other prominent party figures, including Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Annelie Lotriet, and Western Cape provincial parliament member Thomas Walters.
The disqualification highlights the tension between strict administrative enforcement within political organizations and the preservation of competitive internal democratic processes, as parties increasingly rely on mandatory financial contributions from representatives to sustain operations.