Senior DA politicians saw red when ANC MPL Millicent Tingwe called their party the Dagga Alliance during a debate.
|||Cape Town - Senior DA politicians saw red on Thursday when ANC MPL Millicent Tingwe called their party the Dagga Alliance.
She was addressing a debate in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature and was referring to new DA member Thembu King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo.
He has admitted he smokes dagga, saying he would stop only when President Jacob Zuma stopped being corrupt.
DA MPL Mark Wiley jumped to his feet: “Honourable Speaker I do believe the member is maligning the Democratic Alliance.”
Deputy Speaker Piet Pretorius responded: “I will look at that, but member (Tingwe) can continue.”
Tingwe continued using “Dagga Alliance”.
“Order, order, order. I see a couple of members standing,” said Pretorius when three DA figures stood up.
DA provincial leader Ivan Meyer said: “Deputy Speaker I would like to know to which party she is referring to because no such party is registered at the IEC.”
Pretorius ruled: “I’m sure she is talking about the DA, she is not reflecting on any specific member now, so can continue.”
“Thanks for protecting me,” Tingwe said in Xhosa and said Dagga Alliance again.
Pretorius said to her: “Please try and help the chair by not referring to the party here in a different name which could be derogatory.”
ANC MPL Max Ozinsky was quick to respond that Tingwe had freedom of speech.
cobus.coetzee@inl.co.za
Cape Times