MPs mock DA member after ‘vigilant apartheid’ slip-up
It was an embarrassing end to an otherwise good speech by Democratic Alliance MP Darren Bergman in the National Assembly.
A Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) had an unfortunate Freudian slip on Tuesday afternoon in the National Assembly in Cape Town.
It seems Darren Bergman got tongue tied during the Presidency budget debate, saying “robust, vigilant apartheid” before quickly correcting himself and saying “robust, vigilant Parliament” instead.
“Fellow members, honourable president… it is about time that we roll up our sleeves. The myriad of issues plaguing South Africa are pressing and they require our urgent attention. With an inclusive, accountable executive and a robust, vigilant apartheid…” he said before stammering and reading the speech again, this time with the correct “Parliament”.
JEERS AS DARREN BERGMAN WALKS OFF AFTER ‘APARTHEID’ ERROR
His “apartheid” faux pas led to jeers and howls from MPs in the audience, and a visibly embarrassed Bergman quickly wrapped up his address before leaving the podium.
As he walked off, someone, likely an MP, could be heard saying “ya ke o bone [I saw you, meaning ‘I have seen your true colours’]”.
Bergman, who has been a DA MP since 2014, was speaking during a debate of the Presidency budget, which President Cyril Ramaphosa had tabled earlier. He serves on portfolio committee for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency.
‘NO PERMANENT ENEMIES IN POLITICS’
And in another moment of lightheartedness in the National Assembly, before Ramaphosa took to the podium, he was seen interacting with his political foes.
The president was snapped laughing and sharing pleasantries with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party parliamentary leader John Hlophe and Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter.
Last week, Malema – without any evidence – labelled Ramaphosa an apartheid collaborator, after the president delivered his Opening of Parliament Address. This led to Ramaphosa implying that EFF leader was politically illiterate, especially with regard to pre-1994 issues
And on Tuesday morning, minutes before Ramaphosa delivered the Presidency budget address, Zuma-Sambudla called the president a “sellout” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
But most strikingly was Ramaphosa’s interaction with former Western Cape judge president Hlophe.
Ramaphosa formally removed Hlophe as a judge in March this year after MPs voted to impeach him. This came after a finding of gross misconduct by the Judicial Service Commission due to Hlophe trying to sway Constitutional Court justices in a matter involving Zuma.
The president’s action meant Hlophe lost the title of “judge” and related benefits, including a salary for life.