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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance (DA) National Spokesperson Phumzile van Damme speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

Phumzile Van Damme brands Gareth Cliff, John Steenhuisen ‘losers’

Ex-DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has become the latest to weigh in on Gareth Cliff and John Steenhuisen’s racism debate

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance (DA) National Spokesperson Phumzile van Damme speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

Former DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has never been one to hold back and is now weighing in on the controversy surrounding media personality Gareth Cliff and her ex-boss John Steenhuisen.

In case you missed it: Cliff, Steenhuisen and One South Africa Movement member Mudzuli Rakhivhane were talking about the Phoenix posters which sparked furore just recently. The DA caught fire for putting up its posters which read: “The ANC calls you racists, the DA calls you heroes.”  – this is in reference to the violence which broke out in the area back in July. A clip from the conversation was shared on Twitter by Rakhivhane  which quickly led to Cliff topping the Twitter Trends list because of a remark he made in the video which Tweeps found “racist”.

Phumzile slams Gareth Cliff and John Steenhuisen

Like many others, Phumzile Van Damme is not impressed with John Steenhuisen and Gareth Cliff over the cringeworthy debate. Both men are already catching some heat on social media.

“Please do not be angered by those two men. They are not worth your time. Life has already taken care of them. The one used to be on prime time radio, Idols. Look now. After grinning gleefully, the other went & shot himself in the foot *again* about the Phoenix posters. Losers,” Van Damme says on Twitter referring to Cliff and Steenhuisen.

“But, I suppose, the former is a politician and you are right to demand better. I guess I keep my expectations low when it comes to that subject & that chap. Yeah. Seemed about right,” she added.

Van Damme is already at loggerheads with Steenhuisen, something which led to her exit from the party earlier this year.

More background: During the exchange, Cliff cites the Institute of Race Relations’ reports, which says racism is not a priority for South Africans. Rakhivhane then replied by saying, “They obviously don’t experience the type of racism I experience on a daily basis.”

“Your personal experience is completely anecdotal and unimportant to all of us, sorry,” Cliff said in response.

South Africans are now gunning for Nandos, which sponsored the show on Cliff’s online radio station CliffCentral.