Phumzile Van Damme slams Steenhuisen over alleged racial polarization

Phumzile Van Damme, a former DA MP, claims that DA leader John Steenhuisen is using racial polarization and fear to mobilize white voters.

This is after the DA leader urged voters to vote for the official party in response to EFF leader Julius Malema’s chant “Kill the Boer” at the FNB Stadium during the EFF’s 10th-anniversary celebrations.

“This man knows the EFF will never get into power. This man knows there are white ‘swart gevaar’ (black danger) fears of the EFF. This man is manipulating these fears using racial polarization to galvanize the white vote. This man is politically and morally bankrupt and bereft of ideas,” Van Damme said.

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According to Van Damme, the EFF party has also been polarizing voters since its inception and they are known for it. However, Van Damme claims that the DA should be more responsible and be called out when it tries to appeal to human emotions rather than principle and emotional intelligence.

The former MP claims that the DA is not interested in national governance but its interest is in galvanizing the white vote and staying at 20%.

“Its strategy is to galvanize the white vote and stay at 20%. There was a time when the DA sought to unite South Africa. I know. I was there. But now it is a competition with the EFF for a few votes. Just admit it,” she said.

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DA TO FILE CHARGES

On the other hand, Steenhuisen stated that his party will file accusations with the Human Rights Council against Malema and the ANC government, claiming that the EFF leader incited racial violence during the event.

The DA leader said that the charges will be against Malema’s continuous provocation of violence and the ANC’s alleged unwillingness to act to what Steenhuisen referred to as a “one-time protégé. In his speech, he stated that the DA was against the chanting of the song ‘Kill the Boer’.

“The DA unreservedly condemns the chanting of ‘Shoot to Kill’ and ‘Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer’ by Julius Malema during the EFF anniversary rally. We view this act as completely unacceptable and firmly believe that incitement to violence has no place in our society,” said Steenhuisen.

He further urged nationals to register as voters and vote in the DA.

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