Ramaphosa brands DA’s Phoenix posters ‘despicable’
President Cyril Ramaphosa was speaking during an African National Congress (ANC) campaign trial in Potchefstroom, North West on Friday.
“With regard to the DA (Democratic Alliance) issue, it is actually quite despicable that a political party during an election would feel so threatened it would resort to racist tactics. But the worst part is where they try to fan the flames of division in of nation of racism and instilling fear in the minds of our people.”
This comes after the posters in KwaZulu-Natal north of Durban in Phoenix – which the DA are in the process of taking down– caused public outrage with the slogans ‘They called you racists, We call you heroes’ printed on them.
“Because we are committed to the diversity of our people, we would never as a political organisation try to divide the people of South Africa on racial lines,” said Ramaphosa.
“So for me it is really despicable that a political organisation that claims to uphold the values of our constitution to have descended to that level of dividing the people of South Africa.
"Leaders of political parties must work to unite the people of South Africa and not put up posters that are going to fan the flames of racism.”
Meanwhile, the DA’s KZN provincial head Dean McPherson has issued an apology stating that the posters were unsanctioned by the DA leader, John Steenhuisen, as well as the party structures and party campaign leadership.
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