ANC condemns DA racist attack
The ANC has noted with shock the extent to which the DA is prepared to illiberally intimidate, bully and terrorise reporters when they criticize DA governance delivery.
The latest infantile tantrum of intolerance by DA leader Helen Zille against the Daily Voice is unbecoming of a national leader and premier. The outburst follows the expose of Zille's own internal document confirming what the ANC and citizens knew - that the majority of the senior management of her government is white (66%) and she has an agenda to purge black (coloured and African) managers, replacing them with mainly white males.
This story is not only an inconvenient and embarrassing truth for her; it has unmasked her politics of deception and deflection that she has been spinning to the public about the demographic statistics of her government.
The ANC believes Daily Voice reporter Nathan Adams should lay a charge at both the police and the government watchdog institution, the South African Public Protector.
The ANC also calls on editors to support and give their reporters better protection against such excesses or outrages and not easily cave in to publishing all sorts of apologies or soft sorry stories of admiration in exchange for her silence.
Zille's temper and alleged abusive attacks on journalists has a long history and the list grows of the many that had to suffer the indignity and insults she hurls at them when she does not get her way. It is clear she cannot stomach anything but an uncritical, praise singing and subservient media. It is also noted that she is quick on the draw to play the race card by accusing all and sundry of a so-called racist agenda!
The ANC and all citizens have now once again seen how fixated the DA and its leader is with her black threat ("swart gevaar") conspiracy theories on which she and her party thrives.
ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman (international relations and cooperation deputy minister) says: "Many more reporters suffered similar attacks as it is said Zille acts like a circus animal handler with a stick, whip and a loaded gun in her back pocket going after perceived ferocious predators. Zille mostly tilts at windmills in her pursuit of conceived enemies!
"This unwarranted, highhanded behaviour and outbursts usually occurs late at night and is mostly aimed at black reporters - both coloured and African had to feel her proverbial whip on the back as she tongue lashed them!
"The attack on the professional integrity of Adams and his publication shows the levels of desperation the DA and its leader stoops to as the Western Cape government faces a meltdown and material regression since the DA took over. The DA spin, lies, smoke and mirrors is not enough to cover its politics of deception!
"Zille has developed a perception reputation as a bully boss with scant regard for people's rights and dignity. She has to be controlled by her party as she is becoming a growing liability ahead of the upcoming elections."
The ANC is concerned that this dangerous and disturbing trend is on the up as the same heavy handed old German state control Stasi-like storm trooper tactics are also employed against officials of other institutions, like members of the independent judiciary... The DA seems to have a particular penchant to attack mainly blacks (African and coloured), like journalists and judges.
The DA remains a white superiority controlled party as is seen with a largely (70%) appointed white and all male Western Cape cabinet. It seems people of colour are merely used by the DA for window-dressing.
The ANC has also engaged Zille and the DA for spreading untested slander and untruth. This will be taken further in due course.
Statement issued by ANC Western Cape leader, Marius Fransman, April 10 2013
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