DA leader John Steenhuisen believes there is nothing unusual about the two resignations in his party this week. Image: SABC News
Steenhuisen unbothered by DA resignations: ‘People come and go’
DA leader John Steenhuisen says people come and go, like the transfer season in football, after two senior officials resigned this week.
DA leader John Steenhuisen believes there is nothing unusual about the two resignations in his party this week. Image: SABC News
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen, believes that there’s nothing unusual about the resignations of two senior public representatives from the DA, this week alone, just months before the elections.
“Look, it is a silly season now, much like the transfer season in football where you are going to see people jumping from party to party as parties start to confirm their list processes. It is a natural occurrence at this time where four months before elections people are looking for opportunities”
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DA MP GHALEB CACHALIA RESIGNS OVER GAZA REMARKS
The DA’s spokesperson on Public Enterprises and Member of Parliamentary (MP), Ghaleb Cachalia, resigned just days after another seasoned politician, Khume Ramulifho, resigned from the DA and as a member of the Gauteng provincial legislature to join Rise Mzansi party.
The DA said it has accepted Cachalia’s resignation as a Member of Parliament and of the party, effective immediately.
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STEENHUISEN: PEOPLE COME AND GO
The DA leader said: “People come and go, it is the nature of the game. Any political system can be characterised by people who come and go.”
“You have people leaving the EFF daily for the MK party, we have people leaving the ANC to join the MK party, Bongani Baloyi leaves ActionSA and forms his party, people joining Rise Mzansi, it is the season for these changes.”
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DA REGECTS CLAIMS BY FORMER MP GHALEB CACHALIA
In a statement issued on Thursday, the DA said it rejects the claims made by Cachalia, including his mischaracterisation of the party’s position on the war in Gaza.
“The DA remains irrevocably committed to peace, to a two-state solution, and to the creation of a sovereign and unoccupied Palestine in peaceful co-existence next to a secure Israel.”
“His disrespect for party processes, for his colleagues, and for the diversity of views in the DA has mounted over time, culminating in his violation of a caucus decision that the party’s shadow minister for international relations and cooperation would be the spokesperson on the war in Gaza.”
