Steenhuisen should have moved me without trying to control my life, body – Van Damme

After an explosive revelation that she had allegedly been granted a sabbatical that she did not request by DA leader John Steenhuisen, DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has once again taken to Twitter to lament the way she has been treated by the party’s leader.

This after he extended her three months’ sick leave by another three, saying he is concerned about her health.

“He merely informed me. I could walk away, but I choose to stay, and challenge it on principle,” tweeted the MP and Shadow Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies before she launched into a thread detailing her perspective on the issue.

Her current period of sick leave was set to end on 15 December 2020.

Update: The party later officially confirmed that Van Damme had been replaced by Zak Mbele.

ALSO READ: DA’s Phumzile Van Damme: ‘The party and I will talk through my lawyers’

In responding to words of support from ex-Gauteng Premier turned Cope deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa, Van Damme took the opportunity to once again insist that although she has been struggling with her health, it has in no way, diminished her capacity to do her work.

My point Uncle Mbhaz. I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman. I make my own decisions about my body based on what medical professionals inform me. I had a firm handle on my health. I limited work while I was sick to only portfolio committee work which I handled just fine AND excelled https://t.co/twdqzzn1fC

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) December 5, 2020

During that time I forced Stella to appoint a full ICASA board. I got Parliament to stop interfering in the SABC. I got the Minister to stop interfering in the SABC. If he wanted to move me as is his prerogative he should’ve done so without trying to control my life & my body https://t.co/aMs8ULvk9e

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) December 5, 2020

She also took some time out to laugh at some of the reactions to her initial thread about her sabbatical.

Please note, the following videos may contain strong language:

JOHN: Take some time off. Go on a sabbatical.

PHUMZILE: pic.twitter.com/oj13IpULux

— Portia Gumede (@portiagumedesa) December 4, 2020

Phumzile when John told her she’s been put on a sabbatical… pic.twitter.com/JbQH8E3jaH

— The Villager (@Penxenxe) December 4, 2020

Sabbatical

In a letter to Van Damme on Friday, Steenhuisen said he would grant her a three-month sabbatical from all Parliamentary responsibilities, ending on 30 March next year, to enable her to focus on her health and to ensure that she receives the “requisite treatment, rest and rehabilitation without the distraction of added stress and responsibility”.

Steenhuisen wrote: “I remain deeply concerned about your health situation and the four chronic illnesses that you have been diagnosed with. I understand that these have become incredibly debilitating for you to perform every day functions, like walking, due to the chronic pain, vertigo and dizziness. I also know that you require significant periods of bed rest.”

He said because December and January are fairly quiet periods in the Parliamentary schedule, it would be “an opportune time for this sabbatical”.

He said, although he understood that she was passionate about her work, “I would be failing in my duty as a leader if I did not take cognisance of the pain and challenges you are experiencing and intervene to ensure that you focus on getting better”.

He told News24: “I have had to make changes to my shadow cabinet after my election, having inherited a shadow cabinet I did not appoint. It is the prerogative of the leader to do so and has been exercised by every DA leader.

“This is a decision made in consultation with the caucus leadership and with Ms Van Damme’s best interests at heart, I am sorry she is trying to portray it otherwise.”

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