Johannesburg- Another messy poster fallout has emerged in the DA as the party reels from its lacklustre performance at the local polls, during which the official opposition’s electoral support declined by over 7%.
Just before the elections, DA leader John Steenhuisen’s name was dragged into an ugly argument that saw insults fly between DA Johannesburg leader Manny de Freitas, who is also a DA MP, and poster portfolio coordinator Jacques van Rensburg.
Two weeks ago, a virtual meeting of the DA caucus in the country’s economic hub degenerated into chaos when Van Rensburg wanted to know why he was removed as the posters’ coordinator.
He was DA chairperson in ward 27, which covers areas including Bassonia, Glenanda, Glenvista, and Mulbarton.
In an audio clip leaked to Sunday World, De Freitas can be heard losing his cool with Van Rensburg as he launches a tirade during the argument over posters.
“Hold on, let me stop this fuc#*en conversation right now. Jacques you can f**koff in this portfolio, you can f**koff. I drove around yesterday; I saw minimal posters, so don’t start your k*k,” he can be heard shouting.
“Don’t go around telling people that I am throwing you under the bus. You have done dismally in this portfolio and the way I am talking to you is the way I talk to anybody else. I am not going to listen to bullshit, there is no discussion here. We are cutting this conversation.”
Other DA members tried to intervene with no success.
On Friday, Van Rensburg resigned from the DA, accusing De Freitas of being a dictator and a bully.
“Manny has his way of talking to us like we are his puppets. I couldn’t stand this, and I decided to resign from DA as I cannot be disrespected like that in front of my child. When he was busy insulting me, my child was busy doing homework and I felt so small,” he told Sunday World.
The party’s federal executive was today expected to meet to take stock of the organization’s performance during this week’s local government elections. The official opposition lost support in crucial metros including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay.
The party lost 386 wards nationally and lost control of eight municipalities. DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille, Steenhuisen, and the head of governments James Selfe are leading coalition talks. Steenhuisen is under siege from his foes in the party who want him to account for electoral losses. Steenhuisen refused to comment.
However, in a WhatsApp message to Van Rensburg, he said: “I am sorry you have chosen to resign, we are going to need every effort to reform Johannesburg. I hope to get GP sorted after this election has exposed the weakness.”
De Freitas could not be reached for comment.
Listen to the recording below:
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