THE time bomb within the DA in Ekurhuleni has exploded.
This according to Clr Izak Berg, national chairman of the Independent Ratepayers Association of SA (IRASA), after the debacle at the state of the city address last week Wednesday where a DA member accused a fellow member of racism.
“For years now the DA has shown they do not have any respect for protocol, the elected mayor, speaker and chief whip of council. As a matter of fact, the members of the DA don’t have respect for their own organisation in how they act in council,” Berg said in a statement.
“The speaker had on many occasions reprimanded DA councillors on their behaviour in council and against other councillors. In one instance a member of the DA called MMC Makwakwa a “booi” in a council meeting. This DA member had to be escorted out of the meeting by the metro police.
“The speaker on many occasions made rulings in favour of the DA but when rulings goes against them, their true colours comes out.”
Berg said for the DA to now call on the speaker and chief whip to resign is uncalled for. “If they did act against racism in their party and created an avenue for party members to raise their concerns (without victimising complainants) this could have been avoided.
“Speaking out of experience, I once challenged members of the DA about their behaviour and how they manipulated the party when I was still a DA member in 2001. I just got phone calls that my days were numbered in the organisation.
“This is why I left the DA because I serve the people and not a political party.
“The DA is trying to save face by calling for the speaker to resign. The speaker has always treated all councillors with respect in council and has on numerous occasions reprimanded ANC councillors and myself, and even the chief whip of council. We didn’t take it personally or asked her to resign,” Berg said.
