Former DA councillor Linda Lunda.
CONTINUOUS references to black people as Bantus allegedly by fellow DA councillors was the final straw that led to a DA Drakenstein Municipality ward councillor resigning from the party.
Linda Lunda ended her membership with the DA citing a "level of inconsistencies" which were "appalling", saying she was the only black councillor left in caucus having to listen to racial slurs towards black constituents.
"As some of you might know, I have rendered my resignation on Thursday and ended my membership with the Democratic Alliance.
“This came after a very long period where I had to convince myself to stay in a party I once believed was the only vehicle for change for our people.
“The level of inconsistencies were appalling. I was the only black councillor in caucus left and had to sit and listen many times to how sitting ward councillors referred to members of their wards as ‘Bantus’ and speaking down on black people and in a derogatory manner. All this in full view of leadership. And nothing would happen.
“How irregularities have been covered up and councillors in the opposition would be vilified, yet the DA was wrong and the opposition was right. Which by the way is a gross misconduct of Council," said Landu.
She told the Cape Times on Monday she felt relieved following her decision.
Despite thinking she would leave her political career behind her, she said "it seems politics is not done with me" as several parties had already approached her with offers including the MK, PA, FF Plus and the ANC.
Lunda was previously an ANC councillor.
DA Regional Chairperson Koos Steyn said the resignation was not surprising as it followed disciplinary proceedings against Lunda for attending a rally of another political party.
"The decision of former DA Councillor Linda Landu to terminate her DA membership and join another party is not unexpected and was anticipated after a disciplinary process was initiated following her attendance at a rally of another political party.
"The DA in the Western Cape upholds our steadfast commitment to bettering the lives of all citizens within the province and working with members who share the same vision."
Lunda follows a long list of black DA members, some in senior roles, to leave the party in recent years citing racism within the party.
Among them was its leader Mmusi Maimane in 2019 who accused the DA of not being the vehicle best suited to take forward the vision of building one South Africa for all. Herman Mashaba left that same year saying “I cannot reconcile myself with a group of people who believe that race is irrelevant in the discussion of inequality and poverty in South Africa”.
Other prominent leaders were Lindiwe Mazibuko, Phumzile Van Damme, Mbali Ntuli, Zwakala Mncwangu and Bongani Baloyi.
Reacting to the latest resignation, Political analyst Keith Gotschalk said: "It is staggering that DA councillors would use the Verwoerdian term ‘Bantus’”. The Progs, Helen Suzman's party which is the antecedent to the DA, always used the word ‘Africans’.
"Those DA councillors must have come from the old apartheid Nasionale Party."
Human rights activist and conveyor of the Save our Sacred Lands campaign Tauriq Jenkins said: "These incidents confirm a living reality of systemic racism and discrimination in the Western Cape which replete with apartheid spatial planning holds the most divided and racialised communities in the world.
“This is also symptomatic of a broader concern of a galvanised right where racism needn’t be something to apologise for anymore but can be rewarded refugee status and protection.
"It appears that a number of erstwhile Black leaders in the DA caucus have come to know their ‘place’ and purpose. It’s startling to see energy, resources, and commitment to transformation from black and certain so-called-coloured leaders go to waste, and who are forced to leave disgruntled, frustrated and disillusioned. Progressive white councillors have left also.
"It is soul destroying when the realisation dawns, that no matter what, their party positions are predicated on the exhibition and selling of their indigenous presence in order to justify a thinly disguised apartheid culture that seeks to maintain at its core a conservative white constabulary or else lose itself perceived political supremacy and undeniable economic power."
- CAPE TIMES