COMMENT - Watch the DA, it is the same type of party as the MDC in Zimbabwe. Neoliberal tools of the UK/Anglo-American De Beers. And "
Deputy Prime Nick Clegg appointed
former DA CEO and special adviser to Zille,
Ryan Coetzee, as his strategy advisor."? Talk about an intertwining of the British Government and the Democratic Alliance.
ANC officials suspect DA-Britain ‘plot’ to take over SA
Recent meetings between Western Cape premier and DA party leader Helen Zille and various UK government representatives in London earlier this month have fuelled ANC suspicions of a ‘plot’.
By Rebecca Coleman on 22 October, 2012 11:19 am in Featured, News / 30
Speculations are mounting over the
‘suspiciously’ cosy relationship between the British government and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Speaking to News24 last week, a senior ANC official stated that the South African government had concerns about Britain and other European governments siding with the DA. The source continued that the DA were developing strategic international relationships to strengthen their planned government takeover after the 2019 or 2024 general elections.
Recent meetings between Western Cape premier and DA party leader Helen Zille and various UK government representatives in London earlier this month have fuelled suspicions of a ‘plot’.
An article by this newspaper reporting Zille’s address to the South African Chamber of Commerce, in which she said that the ANC would split in the next seven years, allegedly raised ANC concerns.
She is also alleged to have asked British High Commissioner to South Africa Dame Nicola Brewer for 10% of all investments in South Africa to come to the Western Cape during a meeting between the two last week, a claim Zille strongly refutes.
Last month, Deputy Prime Nick Clegg appointed former DA CEO and special adviser to Zille, Ryan Coetzee, as his strategy advisor.
“There is something deeper than meets the eye and South African security has to analyse that,” the official said.
Another high-ranking ANC official likened the ‘plot’ between the DA and the British to the British backing of Zimbabwe’s MDC to overthrow Zanu PF’s ‘hostile’ government.
In response to its suspicions the government’s State Security Agency has increased its surveillance in an effort to combat “aggressive onslaughts” from foreign governments conspiring with the DA and other political parties.
Zille dismissed the claims as absurd saying, “Is someone occupying a parallel universe somewhere? Or is this part of the ongoing ‘Zanufication’ of the ANC?”
She affirmed that all of the DA’s international relations were “professional, as with all other governments with which South Africa has diplomatic relationships.”
While in London she also met with High Commissioner Zola Skweyiya from whom she received “positive feedback every time.”
The DA previously accused the state of spying on their party.
Brian Dube, a State Security spokesperson said the agency “is guided by a need to uphold national security guided by the constitution and national laws. In this regard, the agency does not interfere in normal political activities.”
Does the British government pose any real threat to the ANC or is this nothing more than spin? Comment below.
Labels: ANC, DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (SOUTH AFRICA), HELEN ZILLE, NICK CLEGG, RYAN COETZEE, TREASON
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DA reports far-right group
03 Jun 2012 16:21 - Sapa
The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga says it will report several far-right groups to the Human Rights Commission. This followed a protest in Delmas on Thursday.
Posters displayed slogans reading: “Black cowards – leave our women and children alone”, “Steal, rape, murder: We are finished with Black South Africa” and “Barbarians leave our children alone”, the DA said in a statement.
“We believe that these inflammatory slogans run against the Bill of Rights,” said DA spokesperson Anthony Benadie.
They also contradicted the constitutional imperative that “no person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone [on the grounds of race]”, he said.
The party would report Die Boere-Afrikaner Volksraad, Volksraad Verkiesings Kommissie (VVK), Die Verkenners, Republikeinse Vrouebeweging, Kommandokorps, Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP) and the Afrikaner Weerstandsbewiging (AWB) to the Human Rights Commission on Monday.
The march was organised in protest against the murder of a Delmas woman and her child.
But “tragic incidents” such as the double murder should never be used as a tool for the promotion of hateful and discriminatory ideologies, Benadie said.
South Africans concerned about crime should instead call for specialised crime-fighting units to be set up within the police force.
- Sapa
Labels: DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (SOUTH AFRICA), HELEN ZILLE
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This means war: Unions vow to stop DA march on Cosatu
13 May 2012 04:06 - Nickolaus Bauer
Unions, the ANCYL and YCL have vowed to disrupt a DA-led march on Cosatu's headquarters, warning it will mark the beginning of "open class warfare".
Numsa's Irvin Jim addresses the media on Sunday, announcing the intention of Cosatu affiliates and the youth wings of the ANC and the SACP to stop a march on Cosatu's HQ by the DA this week.
The Democratic Alliance announced its intention to march on the labour federation’s headquarters in Johannesburg after party leader Helen Zille accused Cosatu of working against the interest of unemployed people in her Workers’ Day address on May 1.
But at a press conference in Johannesburg on Sunday, Cosatu affiliates and political youth bodies promised to put a stop to the DA’s march, which the party insists will go ahead on Tuesday regardless of any efforts sabotage its demonstration.
“The DA march marks the beginnings of an open class warfare that will characterise the South African political landscape,” said Irvin Jim, the general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa). “We welcome this provocation and will grab the opportunity to be frontal against white monopoly.”
Jim was speaking on behalf of a tacit coalition between Numsa, the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the ANC Youth League, the Young Communist League and the South African Students Congress (Sasco).
Following a meeting last week, the allies agreed to oppose the DA-led march, labelling it a “provocation” of the working class.
“This march is not for unemployed youths, it is a celebration of what it perceives as a victory over the popular forces of democracy in South Africa since 1994,” Jim said.
Bias against the unemployed
The DA is marching to protest against what it says is the labour federation’s bias against the unemployed and in favour of those who already have jobs, as well as to highlight its concerns with Cosatu’s opposition towards the introduction of the youth wage subsidy.
The opposition party claims the labour movement is “perpetuating unemployment” by denying young South Africans “a foot on the economic ladder”.
Negotiations over the subsidy have stalled at the National Economic Development Labour Council (Nedlac), the body facilitating policy discussions between government, labour, business and civil society.
The plan proposes a reduction in the cost of hiring and training inexperienced youth, with the government setting aside R9-billion for the initiative.
Jim said, however, that the DA’s push for the implementation of the subsidy was camoflaging its continued support for “white monopoly capital”.
‘Swimming in white capital’
“Those who own the economy have become arrogant,” he said.
“They dictate to the people whose labour has produced the wealth this economy, who they must be ruled by.”
Jim also said the DA represents a group of right-wingers, hellbent on “swimming in [the] capital” they gained during apartheid.
“We cannot allow the DA to mock us. Having plunged us into poverty, unemployment and extreme inequality; they now want to spit on the shield of the black and African working class,” Jim said.
Jim would not elaborate on how those opposing the DA march would prevent it from being going ahead, saying only that the opposition party would not be allowed to deliver any memorandum to a Cosatu official.
“The people who organise a march must be held responsible for what happens at that march. Comrade [Zwelinzima] Vavi can’t honour the DA by accepting any memorandum from them. They must hand it to the workers,” he said.
Neither would Jim comment on how many marchers are expected to oppose the DA demonstration: “Just know there will be more than DA.”
‘It’s going to happen’
Attempts to receive comment from Cosatu on the matter proved fruitless as the labour federation’s office bearers or spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
The DA’s national spokesperson, Mmusi Maimane, said Cosatu and its affiliates were “shying away from the real issues”.
“If they had a better economic plan for the future of this country they wouldn’t feel threatened by our march,” Maimane told the Mail & Guardian.
Accordingly, Maimane said the DA isn’t fazed by “intimidation tactics” and insisted the march would go ahead as planned. “We have the necessary approvals and have met all legal requirements. Rest assured: It’s going to happen.”
Labels: ANC, ANC YOUTH LEAGUE, COSATU, DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (SOUTH AFRICA), DEMONSTRATION, HELEN ZILLE
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S/Africa opposition leader in controversy over Zuma
Written by chama
Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:01:07 PM
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa's main opposition leader has angered supporters of Jacob Zuma by describing the new president as a womanising sexist, with some of his allies threatening to take strong action. The comments by Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille have dampened the mood in the country after Zuma's inauguration on May 9 as South Africa's fourth democratically elected president.
Former guerrilla fighters loyal to Zuma have threatened to make the Western Cape province -- the only region in the country controlled by the DA -- "ungovernable" while the powerful COSATU trade union federation threatened strike action.
Zuma's African National Congress said the comments made by Zille in a letter to a newspaper were "reprehensible" and showed she was out of touch with the mood of South Africa.
In the letter, Zille described Zuma as a "self-confessed womaniser with deeply sexist views, who put all his wives at risk by having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman".
Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 and also beat corruption charges when prosecutors dropped the case after eight years of investigation.
Zille wrote the letter in response to criticism that she herself was sexist after unveiling a male-dominated cabinet to serve in the Western Cape, where she is premier.
Her spokesman, Fritz de Klerk, said Zille would not apologise for writing the letter.
Veterans of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the ANC's military wing under apartheid, described Zille's comments as racist.
"Should Helen Zille not refrain from this anti-African and racist behaviour, we are not going to hesitate, but craft and launch a political programme aimed at rendering the Western Cape ungovernable," MK Military Veteran's Association chairman Kebby Maphatsoe was quoted as saying by the SAPA news agency.
Zuma has moved quickly to allay investor fears in Africa's top economy, saying prudent economic policy would continue, but many South Africans regard him warily because they perceive him as a flawed character.
It is unclear if the slanging match between Zille and Zuma's allies will dampen his initial enthusiasm to reach out to opposition parties, in marked contrast to his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, who enjoyed a frosty and at times hostile relationship with the opposition.
"It seems that the rapprochement only lasted a day and then the polemics went back to normal again," said Keith Gottschalk, a political analyst at the University of the Western Cape.
Labels: COSATU, DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE (SOUTH AFRICA), HELEN ZILLE, JACOB ZUMA
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