ActionSA accuses DA of attempting to bribe Newcastle Councillor, DA refutes claims

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

The Newcastle political sphere yet again finds itself in the limelight, with ActionSA accusing the Democratic Alliance (DA) of attempting to bribe one of its Newcastle Councillors.

ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont stated that ActionSA will be laying criminal charges of bribery against senior leaders of the Democratic Alliance (DA), including its KZN Provincial Chairperson, Dean MacPherson on Wednesday, 12 October 2022.

“This comes after images surfaced of ActionSA ward councillor of Newcastle, Shandy Singh, meeting with DA leader John Steenhuisen, former Chief of Staff to Hellen Zille, Ashor Sarupen, DA KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson, Dean MacPherson, and DA KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Leader, Francois Rodgers,” Beaumont pointed out in a statement issued by ActionSA.

According to Beaumont, ActionSA has been reliably informed this meeting was convened to offer Cllr Singh inducements to leave the political party and fill the DA vacancy in KZN Legislature, following the resignation of the political party’s Chief Whip, Zwakele Mncwango.

Beaumont further said that the Newcastle Municipality was won away from the ANC during the 2021 Local Government Elections, and was now under a coalition government, led by the IFP.

“Any effort to induce a by-election in a ward won with 30% of the vote would likely be seized by the ANC and used as an effort to restore an ANC government to the Municipality,” Beaumont added.

With this in mind, he said ActionSA was now calling on the DA to place the Newcastle residents first, ahead of any personal efforts to settle political scores with ActionSA.

“As an organisation that purports to be principled and committed to the rule of law, it is inconceivable that financial inducements would be used to bribe public representatives,” concluded Beaumont.

However, the DA has claimed that the allegations made against them were utterly false. “The Democratic Alliance dismisses with utter contempt the false allegations and threats of criminal charges levelled by ActionSA against the party and various members. The claims are ludicrous at best, and defamatory at worst,” stated Cilliers Brink, DA national spokesperson.

He added, saying that ActionSA’s bitter desperation has reached new lows, as they wasted the time and resources of the SAPS, while South Africans suffer the effects of genuine crime.

“While this marks a new low for this party, it is not the first time that ActionSA has made wile and unsubstantiated claims to garner media attention. The DA will not be sidetracked by the desperation of minnows. While they fight petty political battles, the DA will continue to fight for the people of South Africa,” declared Brink.

As the political parties now address the allegations and claims, what are your thoughts on the above-mentioned? 

Share your views in the comments section below.