OPINION

Why has the DA been given moral immunity?

Chelsea Lotz writes on the disastrous hypocrisy of SA society, particularly in the WCape

Why has the public given the DA immoral immunity?

I feel it is my imperative to point out the disastrous hypocrisy of South African society, particularly in the Western Cape. The deafening silence of the nation at several shocking incidents that recently happened at the hands of the Democratic Alliance is detestable at the very least.

I find it astonishing that such incidents have gone virtually unnoticed by the public, and if noticed, the public seems to be oblivious thus turning a blind eye, ignorantly excusing the atrocious conduct of this political party that deviously proclaims to have the publics best interests at heart.

The deeply entrenched racism of the DA is well known. For example, the shocking incident that came forth yesterday, whereby DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard shared Paul Kirks post on social media, asking PW Botha to return. Many other racist incidents have occurred at the DA, let us not forget the time in 2013, when DA MP Theuns Botha said to ANC MPL Ntombizodwa Magwaza “n bobbejaan sê hoe”, or when two months ago a DA councillor referred to a UDM councillor as a “Bobbejaan”, or the rumoured stories of white DA MP’s refusing to eat from the same set of cutlery that was used by black MPs.

Last week, DA Councillor Winston Campbell resigned from the DA, citing that he had been referred to as a “Bruin man” and “Hottentot” at formal political meetings. As barbaric and intolerable as the well-known racism from the DA is, racism is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the atrocities committed by the DA.

There are many incidents from the cold-hearted Democratic Alliance that exposes their blatant disregard for underprivileged communities, environmental sustainability, animal rights, community safety and education.

We have not forgotten the incident that came to light earlier this year, which is the alleged employment of Hard Living’s gang members, whom were contracted to do building work for the DA run City of Cape Town. Not only did JP Smith and De Lille acknowledge the allegations, the names of the gangsters were found on the Expanded Public Works Programme list, which would prove that they were being employed and paid by the DA run City of Cape Town. If this were at the hands of the ANC, there would be a national outrage, yet the public responded with silence.

After that, was the defence of the 28 gang in the Western Cape by the DA. Earlier this year, the letter to the High Court Judge from DA Councillor W.D Jaftha was published, whereby it furnished proof of the DA councillor begging the judge to give a lighter sentence to the 28 Gang Leaders hitman Reyaaz Dennis. Society cannot impugn that the DA is heavily involved with gang bosses and the underworld, when the evidence is irrefutable.

The third incident was that of animal cruelty. Since the DA introduced the law instructing that no dog may bark, whine or howl for more than 6 minutes an hour, residents have been forced to violently punish their dogs or have their dogs voice boxes removed. Factual evidence through research done by Lauren Leonard for The SA Observer, whom had interviewed SPCA manager Lisa-Maria Greef-Villet as well as Cape Town’s animal behaviourist, Berenice Jaffe, confirmed that in some cases, the dogs voice cords are being cut through illegal procedures and in other cases owners are resorting to shock collars.

This has stemmed from the fear of being fined, thus forcing residents to comply with this ridiculous, shameful and petty law. The DA created this harrowing by-law, and yet the public has silently complied by cruelly removing the voice of their pet dogs, instead of standing against the disgusting conduct of the DA in regards to the safety and dignity of pet animals.

The fourth incident is environmental damage. For years the DA has been knowingly pumping sewage into the ocean, which has caused the beaches to become toxic. Many people have reported picking up e-coli from the beach as the sand is swamped in sewage water. It is a known fact that Seapoint Beach is not safe for swimming and the sewage pumped into the sea is visible.

 When measured by Professor Petrik and his team, it was found that there is so much e-coli present in the water that it would categorically mean that Clifton does not qualify as a blue flag beach. When asked about this, Mayoral committee member utilities, Ernest Sonnenberg, issued a dismissive response of “At this point in time the city is confident that it's the most cost effective way of disposing of effluent”. Yet once again, the public remains silent about this critical issue.

The fifth incident has been the long-standing incident of the closing of schools. The DA has been on a mission to close down as many schools in the Western Cape as possible. Obviously this is a direct violation of the ANC’s efforts to put education on top of the agenda, as well as to provide education for all. The actions have grave consequences on our society, yet the DA disregards such consequences.

When the evidence is so clear of the DA’s lack of concern about animal rights, racism, environmental damage and underprivileged communities that are suffering, then I find it disgraceful that the public insists on remaining obdurate. After all to be silent, is to become an accomplice.

If it were the ANC then there would have been a national outrage about any of those incidents. Why is the DA exempt from the principals that the public applies to the ANC? Does this not illustrate a very dark and deceptive hypocrisy going on, not only in the media, but also in the minds of each and every citizen?

We live in a time of justice, and fairness. The public fear losing a democracy, because they ask who would hold the ruling party accountable, yet the ANC always encourages its members to constructively criticize the party. I find it somewhat distressing that people have more fear of holding the DA accountable than the ANC.

What gives the DA the right to be immune to these horrendous crimes? I will not rest, until I see the DA treated with the same fairness by the public that the ANC is held to, and I encourage the public to find the bravery in their hearts to stand up to these disgraceful wrong doings by the DA.