ANTI-CRIME activist Hanif Loonat has called on “blacks” to wake up and stop the DA from using them.
This comes after the DA denied pushing a political agenda after messages were exposed in which officials appeared to say the party should be “driving the issue” that Muslim people supported them.
This was made in relation to the current conflict where Palestine has been under siege by Israel.
At the weekend, WhatsApp conversations surfaced in which DA members JP Smith and Angus McKenzie said the party was supported by Muslims and was not taking blame for what was happening in the Middle East.
The WhatsApp conversation was sent to a media group and subsequently deleted, but comments made by both McKenzie and Smith were made public online.
“We should all be driving the issue that Muslims are in support of the DA... some context, I’m sorry if I am the one willing to defend the party and not turn a blind eye,” McKenzie had said.
Smith wrote: “I actually think you’re right. The problem is the absent response from all our colleagues. Will work on that and getting especially Muslim colleagues to respond…
“I think we need an urgent meeting on this. With Metro Exco and faith-based communities and all Muslim councillors and aspirant councillors and Muslim branch chairs. This week still.”
Probed about their stance, Smith said: “I agreed that we should get them together to talk. The DA has nothing to do with what happens in Palestine. This is a very evident spin campaign to depict the DA as being in opposition to a group that it totally is not.”
However, Loonat hit back yesterday, saying: “The DA used the media to complain that the ANC is using the conflict in the Middle East to win votes. I want to make it clear that it’s not the ANC but myself in my capacity as an individual who consistently fights injustices to all - irrespective of colour, race, creed or religion. Angus McKenzie must stop blaming the ANC when defending the DA and its support for Israel and its neglect of our ‘black’ areas. When I say ‘black’, I refer to all races previously disadvantaged.
“Am I wrong if I say ‘thank you’ to the DA for its support of Israel whenever I posted an image of a victim of the barbaric attack on the Palestinian people. (Do I not) have the constitutional right to remind my fellow Muslims for supporting a party that hypocritically uses their vote to protect the interest of the previously advantaged and who protect the interest of their funders who are mostly Zionist...I can go on with accusing the DA for its hypocritical administering in the Western Cape. My humble call to all ‘blacks’ is to wake up and stop the DA from abusing our people,” he said.