Her remarks are in response to an article by the ‘Sunday Times’ on Sunday morning, which claims she’s being investigated by the organisation for bringing it into disrepute.
DA MP Phumzile van Damme. Picture: EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Democratic Alliance (DA) member of Parliament (MP) Phumzile van Damme has taken a swipe at the party through a series of tweets, saying she won’t allow her name to be dragged through the mud.
Her remarks are in response to an article by the Sunday Times on Sunday morning, which claims she’s being investigated by the organisation for bringing it into disrepute.
Van Damme said she had only learnt of the charges through the media and has taken exception to not being informed of the probe by the party’s federal legal commission instead.
What a fascinating story in the ST today about the DA “purge,” wherein I for the first time find out the contents of the report I will be charged on. I’ve found almost all details about this saga in the press. Not Fedex nor FLC has had the decency to inform me first. We are led.
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) September 6, 2020
She said the same strategy was used to hound former leader Mmusi Maimane out of the organisation.
It’s being reported that at least seven prominent leaders including KwaZulu-Natal head Zwakhele Mncwango are facing disciplinary charges in what’s been touted as a battle for control of the organisation.
The saga comes hot on the heels of the dramatic resignation of Gauteng leader John Moodey this week who said there was a purge within the organisation where Maimane’s allies were being targeted.
DA’s REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE
The criticism has brought into sharp focus the cracks in the organisation, which through the party’s own admission have caused it reputational damage.
The DA’s image was left in tatters back in 2018 after a public brawl with former Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille led to her resignation.
Just over a year later, Maimane dropped a bombshell by announcing his departure from the organisation.
Both leaders are now known to have butted heads with the party behind closed doors on several policy issues.
When probed on whether she’d leave the organisation in the wake of her remarks Van Damme tweeted, “I don’t run from fight, I jump in.”
