Western Cape – This week posed significant challenges for the Democratic Alliance, the official opposition party to the ANC.
Firstly, the party experienced the departure of Khume Ramulifho, a highly regarded DA member and member of the Gauteng legislature, who joined Rise Mzansi. Shortly after, another setback occurred when DA Member and Member of Parliament Ghaleb Cachalia tendered his resignation.
In an interview with Salaamedia, Cachalia shared the circumstances leading to his resignation, a narrative well-covered by the media. Late last year, he was ousted from the DA’s shadow cabinet due to his remarks on Israel’s actions in Gaza, described as brutal and genocidal.
Cachalia highlighted that the rift with DA leadership began on October 7, and subsequent comments, actions, and interviews fueled internal discord within the party, particularly regarding the DA’s stance on Israel.
The situation escalated to the point where, according to Cachalia, for standing firm on labelling a genocide as such and speaking truth to power, he received a cease-and-desist order.
“I was told to cease and desist, which means shut up and sit in a corner and don’t tell anybody that you’ve been told to shut up and sit in a corner. I can speak about anything else. I can speak about what a wonderful job Steenhuisen is doing and how bad the ANC is. I can speak about the flowers in my garden, but I can’t speak about Gaza.”
Nevertheless, the DA dismisses his assertions, labelling them a “mischaracterisation of the party’s position on the war in Gaza.” The statement reasserts the DA’s position, emphasising the party’s dedication to peace, a two-state solution, and establishing a sovereign and unoccupied Palestine peacefully coexisting alongside a secure Israel.
DA Rebuffs Cachalia’s Attempt to “Scapegoat” Party Leader
While consistently carrying out his responsibilities within the party and as a Member of Parliament, Cachalia revealed the Minister of DIRCO within the shadow cabinet of the DA cautioned him, indicating he would face disciplinary action and be flagged during the elections.
The DA said this was due to “his disrespect for party processes, for his colleagues, and the diversity of views in the DA has mounted over time, culminating in his violation of a caucus decision that the party’s shadow minister for international relations and cooperation would be the spokesperson on the war in Gaza.”
Despite this warning, Cachalia explained the communication regarding potential repercussions was back and forth. Therefore, he sought a mediation process with DA leader John Steenhuisen, a request Steenhuisen was prepared to accommodate only in the final moments.
“I’d asked for a mediation a long time ago with John Steenhuisen and to deal with this. He was not willing. At the 11th Hour, he came back and said he was open to mediation, but he wanted an apology from me upfront. Well, I’m afraid he doesn’t understand the meaning of the word mediation if that’s his stance. I went back, and there was no response. So then I was duty bound, in my view, to tender my resignation, which I did.”
Nonetheless, the DA rebuffed Cachalia’s attempt to “scapegoat” Steenhuisen to justify his resignation.
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DA’s “Undemocratic Tendency”
Within his resignation statement, Cachalia presented several assertions, one characterising the DA as “dysfunctional, undemocratic, and authoritarian”.
The DA contended Cachalia breached party policies and alignment by expressing empathy for Palestinians in Gaza. However, he countered, asserting a thorough investigation revealed no such violation occurred, as no policies were presented and ratified.
“In an interview I gave to Newsroom Africa, I analysed what I said. I analysed every single word and sentence that I said with the use of artificial intelligence technology. I compared it to DA policies, and there was not one transgression of policy. Even if it were policy, which it wasn’t, there was no transgression, yet I’ve been singled out for that reason.”
Nevertheless, in the instances involving Cachalia and others, the DA has demonstrated a readiness to disregard fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech and expression, to uphold its neutral, pro-Israeli positions. Moreover, they could be seen as actively eliminating any opposing perspectives and insignia indicating solidarity with the Palestinians, as observed in recent weeks.
Despite the DA’s stance on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the alleged unfair treatment of their party members, and the dissatisfaction expressed by the residents of the Western Cape, Cachalia remains optimistic they can correct their destructive trajectory, provided they are willing to address the issues.
“The DA can solve this. Even Rishi Sunak has asked for a ceasefire, and it’s time the DA asked for it. Sometimes, you have to eat humble pie and say you know we were wrong; what has happened is worthy of a ceasefire, and we will now come out unequivocally against the acts being committed.”
Despite his recent resignation, Cachalia gave little thought to his next move.
