By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Member of Parliament (MP) Ghaleb Cachalia has resigned from the party and parliament over differences with the party’s stance on the war between Israel and Hamas.
In November, Cachalia was removed from his position as the party’s Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises over his comments on the war.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, he announced his resignation.
“The leadership of the DA has become increasingly uncomfortable with my public utterances over the past few months. This mainly concerns issues around the war on Gaza. As a consequence, I have been fired from my position in the shadow cabinet – notwithstanding any connection between my erstwhile portfolio and the events referred to.
“Since then I have been accused of contradicting DA official policy and contravening a caucus injunction to only allow the shadow minister for Dirco (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) to comment on related matters. I have since received a ‘cease and desist’ notification,” he said.
“Moreover, I have not been furnished with any caucus decision which empowers the shadow minister with sole rights of commentary on the matter. This evinces a growing dysfunctional, undemocratic and authoritarian tendency in the party.”
Cachalia said,” Should the party wish to continue and conclude the disciplinary process against him, he would delay his resignation.
“I will be willing to delay my resignation until such a date as I have no desire to obfuscate nor escape any allegations made. However, the party should be aware that during the intervening time, I will continue to publicly voice my opinion on Gaza. I am of the firm belief that insofar as such policy may exist on the war in Gaza, I have not directly contradicted party policy in any way,” he said.
Cachalia’s resignation comes a day after Khume Ramulifho also resigned from the party.
DA national spokesperson Solly Malatsi said they accepted Cachalia’s resignation.
“The DA categorically rejects the claims Cachalia has manufactured in an attempt to justify his resignation, including his mischaracterisation of the party’s position on the war in Gaza. The DA remains irrevocably committed to peace, to a two-state solution, and to the creation of a sovereign and unoccupied Palestine in peaceful coexistence next to a secure Israel,” said Malatsi.
In April 2016, the son of Struggle icons Yusuf and Amina Cachalia, jumped ship, joining the DA from the ANC, a party whose beliefs and morals he grew up with.