Doesn’t matter who’s driving, ANC is a broken vehicle – Van Damme

Democratic Alliance shadow minister of communications Phumzile van Damme has described the ANC as a broken car that is beyond repair. “You can change the driver, but it doesn’t mean that the car will keep moving,” she said, referring to the party.

Changing the president would not solve the problem according to Van Damme, as it was still the “same” broken vehicle.

Speaking outside parliament, Van Damme said the country had an ANC problem, not “a president problem”. She added that the DA was there to listen to what President Cyril Ramaphosa had to say, but still had their own plans and beliefs on the status of the country.

The party plans to have their manifesto rally on February 23, where they will outline their plans for the country after the elections. She described the election polls as interesting, following the recent registration weekend, and said the party was entirely focused on the future.

The MP hasn’t held back her verbal punches. She recently took on Western Cape Premier Helen Zille who threatened a tax revolt should the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture not prosecute those implicated in time.

Van Damme was responding to a column written by Zille, which provided reasons for a tax revolt. The confrontation was taken to Twitter where Van Damme posed several questions to the Western Cape premier, pointing out that Zille did not consult with her own party about the tax revolt proposal, but instead, decided to put it on a public platform.

Van Damme f0und it strange that Zille was not motivating people to cast their votes for change, but instead undermined all the “hard work” that she and the DA had put into their campaign.

Interesting. @helenzille are Western Cape residents also encouraged to take part in a #taxrevolt? Just genuinely trying to understand how it would work. https://t.co/1EWBfrlBts

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

I have to this day, @helenzille remembered the words you told me as a young politician: “always stand firm on principle.” I live those words and my trying understand how a #taxrevolt is in line with the principles & values of our party.

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

She asked Zille if the revolt would apply to DA-led municipalities.

What I am trying to understand is, where we govern, are you proposing we stop charging rates & taxes (we would have to support a tax revolt, as per your suggestion) or should residents just revolt? Or does it only apply to areas the DA doesn’t govern?

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)

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