NEWSFLASH
Phumzile van Damme resigns from Parliament and the DA because of ‘clique of individuals’
Phumzile van Damme has resigned as a member of Parliament and as a Democratic Alliance member, she confirmed on Thursday evening.
“This was not an easy decision to make, and it is done so with a heavy heart,” said Phumzile van Damme on Thursday as she announced her resignation as a Member of Parliament and from her political party, the official opposition Democratic Alliance.
In 2014, she became an MP and the party’s national spokesperson, as well as its shadow minister — a term for the party’s parliamentary spokespeople — for communications. After the 2019 general election she retained her seat in Parliament and once again became shadow minister for communications.
In a statement released via social media on Thursday evening, Van Damme said: “During my seven years as the Shadow Minister of Communications, and a Parliamentary Whip, I had the pleasure of witnessing the fruits of my hard labour, when we took on the SABC, and turned the tide on it being a state broadcaster and set it on a path to be a public broadcaster. Going as far as travelling to London, I led the charge against Bell Pottinger’s sordid SA disinformation and state capture campaign, which eventually led to the fall of the decades old company.”
More recently, Van Damme was instrumental in Parliament’s communications committee trying to get social media giant Facebook to deal with the proliferation of fake news and misinformation. In February, Van Damme said, “Importantly, Facebook Africa needs to provide a plan on what steps it will be taking in tackling misinformation ahead of the 2021 local government election, as it has done for elections in other parts of the world.”
About her work on combating disinformation, she said, “I worked with tech giants both here and abroad, thus gaining international recognition as a global expert on disinformation having been invited to address a United Nations panel on the subject and becoming a member of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation.”
In her statement, Van Damme said, “To be clear, I will not be joining another political party, nor will I be using my time to launch attacks on the DA… I leave on my own terms, having made my own decision.
“Nonetheless, in a climate of rumours and the need to create heroes and villains, my resignation as an MP is not because the DA is a so-called ‘racist party’ but because of a clique of individuals — and in order not to make the good women and men still in the DA suffer, I will not delve further into this.”
In December 2020, Van Damme and DA leader John Steenhuisen locked horns when he put her on an “enforced sabbatical” for health reasons. This was despite Van Damme saying she did not want a sabbatical and that it was a decision she should take between herself and her doctors, not Steenhuisen.
Read in Daily Maverick: Steenhuisen benches Phumzile van Damme — supporters are outraged
In her statement, Van Damme said, “Again, I leave with a sore heart and wish to thank members of the public who have stood with me during my time as an MP… as politicians we often forget that we are servants of the people first and foremost, and our work as public representatives is because of them and for them.”
She said was focused on the future and “will therefore not be conducting interviews, nor will I be drawn into any negativity that may emanate from the DA. Should the party choose to destroy my reputation and impugn my character, I will not engage in a back and forth. My good record of service and work speaks for itself, and I will not partake in any gun fights I am called to be part of.”
The DA has accepted Van Damme’s resignation. In an 82-word statement, the party’s national spokesperson, Siviwe Gwarube, said: “We extend our best wishes to Phumzile and thank her for her extraordinary service to the DA in Parliament and by extension, the country. From taking on Bell Pottinger, fighting for an independent SABC and her tenure as DA National Spokesperson — Phumzile demonstrated her talent as a political communicator and a parliamentarian.”
“I worked hard and made sure I excelled; and reflecting on my time as an MP I can unequivocally say that I am happy with my career and the mark that I leave behind through my contribution to South African politics,” read Van Damme’s statement. DM
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Many thanks Phumzile.
This doesn’t help the DA’s rather large problem of being too white very much.
It’s not a matter of just being white, its leadership is a certain type of distasteful white.
But it does align the with the DA leader’s goal of transformation into the AntiWoke Freedom Fighters (AFF)
The woman has always created the impression of being a bit of a loose cannon playing for the spectators. Perhaps the role of becoming a socialite would suit her profile better instead of that of a politician.
Doesn’t the DA understand that they will fade into oblivion when staying on their present trajectory.
Hear! Hear! This leaves me with a feeling of dismay.
As much as I like the DA seeing someone of this calibre leaving the organization leaves too many questions about where the DA is going. Too many own goals and too much negativity.
Copy that, Fanie. Way too many questions about their direction, and holding on to the wrong individuals
She has just tweeted that she resigned as MP but not as a DA member
Great! Cancels all those snide comments above! A party is about the policies, not about the people, they come and go. The question is: Do we, The People, want a totalitarian government (ANC) or a democratic government (DA). Take your pick.
Doesn’t the DA understand that they will fade into oblivion when staying on their present trajectory.
If we all wait for our perfect political party and do not vote DA for various reasons that annoy us there will be nothing left as the ANC demolishes South Africa brick by brick (literally in the case of our railways).
For the DA to become an effective and powerful opposition or to eventually become the government, it requires substantial number of votes of the non-white population. Right now, it does everything to repel that part of SA.
This is a tragedy and what makes it worse is that Van Damme should be leading the DA and not the current leadership that has absolutely no fresh ideas or understanding of what is really required to be an opposition of some weight in this county. Van Damme knew and was up to the task. Another great political player gone because of those who would hold onto their power long after the sell by date. Argh, I am really devastated by this. Who shall hold those in power to account? Who? Eish!
It is shortsighted of her to resign for the reasons that she gives as she is likely to outlive the clique that appear to have upset her. She could have had a great future in the DA if she had been more patient. “A week in politics is a long time”.