Is the Democratic Alliance (DA) busy crumbling like the once-great Colosseum in Rome? This comes after yet another member has stepped away from the political party. Phumzile Van Damme resigned as a member of Parliament and from the DA on Thursday, May 20. However, the flamboyant former DA MP tweeted on Friday indicating that she was not resigning from the country’s opposition party.
Just a point of correction. I resigned as an MP. I remain a member of the DA.
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) May 21, 2021
As reported by SABC, Van Damme took to Twitter to announce the news indicating that her decision was very difficult and she chose to leave the party with a heavy heart. It is alleged that she leaves the party due to a clique of individuals rather than it being a “racist” organisation.
I have today tendered my resignation as a DA MP. Thank you so much, South Africa ❤️?? pic.twitter.com/3Z1N1rSJD5
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) May 20, 2021
Her resignation comes as no surprise as she has had several run-ins with the party’s leadership under John Steenhuisen. Van Damme was removed as the party’s shadow minister of communications in 2020. Former MEC for Transport and DA leader in the Western Cape, Bonginkosi Madikizela also resigned from the party in April 2021, amid the furore over his qualifications on his CV. Meanwhile, DA spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube said that the party had received and accepted Van Damme’s resignation, IOL reports. “The DA has received and accepted the resignation of Phumzile Van Damme as a Member of Parliament and from the Party. We extend our best wishes to Phumzile and thank her for her extraordinary service to the DA in Parliament and by extension, to the party,” the party said in a statement.
The DA has received and accepted the resignation of Phumzile Van Damme as a Member of Parliament and from the Party.
We extend our best wishes to Phumzile and thank her for her extraordinary service to the DA in Parliament and by extension, the country.https://t.co/xRTdoduLPf
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 20, 2021
Some Twitter reactions following Van Damme’s resignation.
The flushing of experiments continues! A va ya kwihi? The role and purpose of Mr. Matric is to make the da pure white again! On that front he’s doing well. Give him and colleagues exam papers, windows will certainly experience congestion of semi-literate whites running away. https://t.co/TNAbLDottu
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) May 20, 2021
The DA owners are taking back their party from black stooges. It will now remain pure white!
Loyal loudmouths like Gwen Ngwenya, Solly Msimang, Nqaba Bhanga, Siviwe Gwarube & useful tools like Makashule, Mbombo will also be vomited.#PhumzileVanDamme #PumzilevanDamme #vanDamme pic.twitter.com/bvH0jaw9g6— Concourt failed Makate????? (@Spiwo) May 20, 2021
Huge loss for DA, for SA politics! Your passion and energy for what you believe in will be missed. All the best for the future. Keep on making waves!
— Debbey Kitching Olivier (@DebbeyOlivier) May 20, 2021
You will be a big loss in Parliament. I hope your important voice will not be lost in our public institutions – but wish you all the best.
— Pippa Green (@green_pippa) May 20, 2021
We shouldn’t be shocked and surprised that Phumzile Van Damme has resigned from the DA. That party has never stood for black interests. They tried strategically placing black people in order to gain the black vote and their constituency is not happy.
— Modibe Modiba (@mmodiba10) May 20, 2021
May I invite you to join the EFF @zilevandamme, and I’m not kidding.
— Ticking Time Bomb? (@KuneneTicky) May 20, 2021
Until you give them back their surname, you’ll never leave them peacefully
— Class Rep (@blacques_s1) May 21, 2021
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Picture: Twitter/ @SkyeGrove