Response to the DA laying charges against ANC officials involved in "Project Reclaim"

29 November 2011

I was inundated with calls from people (which included DA councillors and leaders) about the DA's press statement which implicated me and other ANC members with bribery for a clandestine, James Bond type of operation entitled "Project Reclaim".

I was astonished by my name being mentioned because the allegations are as fictional as the project that I have never heard of. Part of me wishes to laugh at the absurdity but this is a serious allegation which prompts me to respond not only for myself but for my family, the people that I represent and the organization that I love.

It is appropriate to address Mr. Theuns Botha as it was he that issued the false statement. Mr. Botha, it is unseemly that I should have to remind a veteran politician that checking facts is required before issuing a press statement. The fact is that I am an ANC PEC member who has never been an ANC regional leader, in Bitou or any other place. Secondly, Ralph Mapondo is not and never was the ANC Chairperson in Bitou. Thirdly, but more importantly, the allegations are untrue which questions your true agenda and political machination.

Did I meet with Neville de Vaal? Yes but you misrepresented the nature, substituting subterfuge for benign reality. In the real world, I met Neville on numerous occasions...maybe as many as a thousand times...none in secret because we are friends. We have known each other for more than 25 years, beginning with us being in the same class in high school.

I have many friends in other parties (yes, the DA too - "sorry", I never knew that that DA had forbidden it). My dear friend and mentor, Reverent Chris Nissen, taught me a long time ago, when Kidron Kaboni went to the DA, that your friends stay your friends no matter what party they belong to. I would much prefer to think that we are all South Africans and that our democracy allows us to debate with our opponents and our friends.

Did I say to Neville that he should leave the DA? Yes, I did. Now don't use that as a quote to misrepresent me. I told him on numerous occasions that he doesn't belong in the DA. In fact, I have told all my friends in the DA to leave the DA, the same way people in other parties have, many times before, told me to leave the ANC. Did they break the law by trying to persuade me to leave the DA? No, of course not. Did I break the law by telling Neville, or any other person, to leave the DA? Definitely not. That is not only part of the nature of politics but understandable when standing up for a personal belief.

Now, onto the peri-peri sauce you threw onto the braai you made. Did I attempt to bribe Neville with R900 000? Sjoe, that's a lot of money. I can think of a thousand good things to do with that but none would include giving any to a DA councillor. To make it very clear, I did not bribe Neville de Vaal.

Since you enjoy fantasy, you may not appreciate this truth: There's no need to bribe non-white, DA councillors because it is general knowledge that they are most unhappy in the DA which, in the Western Cape, has gained the infamous nickname "UA" (Undemocratic Alliance).

The DA's shiny-new, black parliamentary leader does not alter the fact that the DA is the same racist party that it was. It still looks after white interest and only uses Coloured and African people. More and more people's eyes are opening to that fact. Which non-white DA councillor has any say in policy matter or in the running of their towns? Non-white DA councillors and mayors hate being DA councillors. They were trapped by DA lies.

Many have already indicated that they are fed up with the racism and discrimination in the DA. They are fed up of being micro-managed from Cape Town. They are fed up of being told and instructed what to do, who to appoint or who to fire. They are fed up of having no say in the running of the DA and their respective councils. They are fed up with baas Theuns and madam Zille.

In light of the above, this "stunt" by Mr. Botha is actually a well thought of move. It is a "preemptive strike". It is designed to scare, into submission, any disillusioned DA councillor who might be thinking of leaving the DA. They are threatening them with breaking the law and the councillors' code of conduct. These DA actions give more validity to the strong rumors that the DA has a blacklist of "BAD" DA councillors whose phones are tapped and their movements monitored? "Bad" is DA-speak for "won't do what the baas or madam told without question".

Furthermore, it wouldn't surprise me if this is also meant to serve as a deflection away from DA mistakes and troubles. The DA has egg on its face in Bitou (Plettenberg Bay). They were extremely vocal with regards ANC crimes. After being advised not to go to court, and their subsequent promise that the public would not foot the bill, they lost a case on 6 points whilst racking up R1million in fees. The Council then went extremely quiet except for when the Speaker, a DA member, rightfully offered to resign as a result of this debacle (initiated by him), Theuns Botha stepped in and told him not to resign. Not to mention the case of the ex-mayor's car which the DA splashed across SA (and on Carte Blanche) only for it to be discovered that the DA had lied in saying that they had returned it.

In my hometown of Knysna, there is major dissatisfaction after the DA never followed through on their election promises of truth, transparency and open-door policy. Here, they wasted millions of Rands by when they offered the previous Municipal Manager, Mr. Johnny Douglas a golden handshake without the money being budgeted for that. Isn't that illegal? There have already been many service delivery protests this year, because the DA is not interested in providing services to Coloured and African areas.

At Eden they have fired senior personal without any good reasons and are now facing law suites of millions of Rands. As matter of fact the DA has spend millions on court cases and it is not getting any better. Everywhere I travel, I am people are coming complaining about all the bad things that are happening under DA control and how sorry they are that they voted for the DA.

If any DA councillor is fed up with subservience to the likes of Theuns Botha and Helen Zille then they should do the right thing and resign. Depending on the situation, they can even seek justice through the courts or lay criminal charges against those who instructed them to break the law. If the DA is so confident about their support they would fire those "tainted" councilors and show the ANC and the world that they are the Top Cat in the Western Cape. They will never do that because the people won't be fooled twice.

I'm challenging Mr. Botha to charge me and all the others whose names were mentioned. It's not as if we are going to sit back and pretend this attack never happened. Personally, I'm seeking legal opinion on the irresponsible and false allegations against me and will seek damages from Mr. Botha. I'm also calling on the ANC to get the Public Protector to investigate all these serious breaches of the law by Mr. Botha and the DA.

Ja Mr. Botha. It's a new South Africa en jy kani maak en breek soos jy wil nie. It is no surprise that some DA members feel unwelcome in your party.

Ralph Stander is a member of the ANC Western Cape's provincial executive committee. He lives in Knysna.

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