Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Phumzile Van Damme has resigned from the party. Van Damme was placed on special leave by the party in November 2020 without consultation.
“I have had a full and life-shaping journey as a Democratic Alliance (DA) activist, staff member, the longest serving National Spokesperson from 2014 to 2018, and a Shadow Minister, which I put my all into,” said Van Damme in a statement released on Thursday.
I have today tendered my resignation as a DA MP. Thank you so much, South Africa ❤️🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/3Z1N1rSJD5
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) May 20, 2021
Van Damme says she will not be joining another party.
“To be clear, I will not be joining another political party, nor will I be using my time to launch attacks on the DA,” says Van Damme.
Van Damme says she is leaving the DA “not because the DA is a so-called ‘racist party’ but because of a clique of individuals”.
The DA has received and accepted the resignation of Phumzile Van Damme as a Member of Parliament and from the Party.
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 20, 2021
We extend our best wishes to Phumzile and thank her for her extraordinary service to the DA in Parliament and by extension, the country.https://t.co/xRTdoduLPf
The DA has accepted her resignation.
“We extend our best wishes to Phumzile and thank her for her extraordinary service to the DA in Parliament and by extension, the country. From taking on Bell Pottinger, fighting for an independent SABC and her tenure as DA National Spokesperson – Phumzile demonstrated her talent as a political communicator and a parliamentarian,” said DA National Spokesperson, Siviwe Gwarube, in a statement.
