Helen Zille, Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance, has slammed former DA Member Of Parliament (MP) Phumzile Van Damme for tweets critical of the party’s current leader, John Steenhuisen.
Van Damme took to Twitter this week after Steenhuisen condemned EFF leader Julius Malema for singing “Kill the Boer” at the end of his party’s 10-year anniversary festivities at the FNB Stadium over the weekend.
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Last year, AfriForum filed a complaint with the Equality Court, claiming that the song incited violence. Nevertheless, the court found that the song, “Shoot to kill, kill the Boer, kill the farmer,” was not hate speech and that the chanting should not be taken literally.
After Malema’s weekend singing of the contentious song — Steenhuisen said the DA considered pressing accusations at the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold Malema accountable.
“The DA condemns Malema’s calls to “Shoot to kill” and “Kill the Boer”. I declared the EFF political enemy number one of the DA at our congress precisely because this demagogue will plunge SA into anarchy if he ever gets power,” Steenhuisen tweeted.
In response to his post, Van Damme accused Steenhuisen of playing on voters’ fears.
Zille criticised her party’s former MP by posting a screenshot of Van Damme’s response to Steenhuisen’s tweet.
“This will tell you why the DA parted company with @zilevandamme. Now that she has safely emigrated to the safety of Norway, who cares if some leaders stoke civil war in SA??” Zille said.
This will tell you why the DA parted company with @zilevandamme. Now that she has safely emigrated to the safety of Norway, who cares if some leaders stoke civil war in SA?? pic.twitter.com/RkkdTkUyXA
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) August 2, 2023
Van Damme accused Zille of blocking her and tweeting about her behind blocked accounts in a series of tweets.
Upon her resignation as MP in 2021, Van Damme declared the termination of her DA membership. She is now living in Norway.
“You don’t want this. And this time you won’t be able to call me to apologise or beg me not to criticise the DA. I am not the other black people you bitterly spend your lives obsessing over because they leave the DA you go on to reach career heights you can only dream of”” Van Damme said.
She didn’t stop there, she went on to say: “Keep my name out your mouth, lips. Continue going back to ignore me. It’s for the best. I am simply not worth it.”
Keep my name out your mouth, lips. Continue going back to ignore me. It’s for the best. I am simply not worth it.
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) August 2, 2023
It’s what she does. Lied about Mbali’s reasons for leaving her political party too. Just let people go and move one. Please guys when I’m damn near 80 still on Twitter bitter and mean because people left my precious little party, confiscate my devices. What a sad sad existence. https://t.co/QaYwdIsLDz
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) August 2, 2023
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Lindiwe Mazibuko, a former DA MP, claimed the party had become the “Is’korokoro,” or a broken-down car, feeding on fears.
Mazibuko claimed on the Eyewitness News podcast “Politicking with Tshidi Madia” that the DA exalted guns, religion, and conservative ideals while demeaning women and the LGBTIQA+ community.
Mazibuko claims that the DA is fueled by fear in online communities.
 Phumzile Van Damme for tweets critical){kind=link}