SA MP removed from shadow cabinet over Israel spat

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SA MP removed from shadow cabinet over Israel spat

10:49 CAT | 03 Nov 2023

FILE - Opposition Democratic Alliance warns caucus members against making public comments on Israel-Palestine war. [File photo: Getty]

South African main opposition party has removed MP Ghaleb Cachalia from the coveted shadow cabinet over remarks he made on the Israel-Gaza war.

Mr Cachalia, who served as the shadow public enterprises minister for the Democratic Alliance (DA), is said to have violated the party’s position on the conflict.

The party had appointed a spokesperson for the Israel-Palestine conflict and urged caucus members to refrain from making public statements that could divide or inflame the issue.

But on Tuesday Mr Cachalia tweeted, “I will not be silenced. Israel is committing genocide”.

DA leader John Steenhuisen described the MP’s behaviour as “selfish and pursuing narrow self-interest above the common good”, state-run SABC news website reports.

Mr Cachalia in a statement confirms receiving the dismissal letter from the DA leader and says he will remain loyal to the party.

“I continue to keep a watchful eye on human rights abuses here and globally and I will always speak truth to power,” he added.

He will be replaced by Mimmy Gondwe as the party’s spokesperson on public enterprises.

I will not be silenced.
Israel is committing Genocide.
Full 🩸 BLOODY 🩸 stop.

— ghaleb cachalia. MP (@GhalebCachalia) October 31, 2023

[JUST IN] The DA has removed Ghaleb Cachalia from its Shadow Cabinet over his tweet which said “I will not be silenced. Israel is committing Genocide. Full BLOODY stop.”

In a letter signed by DA leader, John Steenhuisen, he said Cachalia’s tweet is not inline with the party. TCG pic.twitter.com/nIogZSqYp9

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2023