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Two days early in the new year have been set down for axed MP Dianne Kohler Barnard’s appeal against her sentence, which was handed down by the DA federal executive.
The appeal would take place on January 14 and 15 and Kohler Barnard would be represented once again by heavyweight advocate Barry Roux, her attorney Gerhard Wagenaar confirmed today.
A five-member panel has been selected for the appeal, but not yet confirmed, said Federal Legal Commission Chairperson Glynnis Breytenbach.
She said appeal dates could not be arranged earlier due to heavy commitments at the end of the year.
The decision by the federal executive (Fedex) to not endorse the recommendations of a disciplinary panel – that included three independent attorneys – and instead impose the maximum penalty, has split the party.
In terms of the party’s constitution, Fedex is entitled to either confirm the sentence, or impose a lesser or greater penalty “with good reason”.
Recommendations to Fedex reportedly included a drop in salary, a R20 000 fine and a public apology.
When Kohler Barnard lodged notice of her intention to appeal, she argued that good reasons did not exist. Wagenaar declined to elaborate today, saying it was in his client’s best interests to not release information to the media ahead of the appeal.
Kohler Barnard brought the party into disrepute after sharing a post on Facebook that hankered after the days of apartheid leader PW Botha.
It came as the DA has been intent on shedding perceptions it is a party that protects white privileges.
She apologised, and pleaded guilty after being charged under the party’s new social media policy. She entered into a plea and sentence agreement.
