Zille ‘partly responsible’ if DA numbers are down – Van Damme

DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has written a series of tweets taking Cape Town Premier Helen Zille to task over her proposed tax revolt.

Zille called for a tax revolt if those implicated at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture are not prosecuted and jailed in a “reasonable amount of time”.

She has since defended the call, saying South African history is full of examples of tax revolts. She cited the civil disobedience campaign which saw Gauteng residents refuse to pay e-tolls and the Bambatha Zulu rebellion against the imposition of a “poll tax” by the British colonisers in 1906 as two examples.

READ MORE: Zille slams ‘hysteria’ following her call for a tax revolt

The DA, however, has distanced itself from the calls, through their official Twitter account as well as through party leader Mmusi Maimane and spokesperson Solly Malatsi, among other prominent members.

Now, Van Damme has fired off a series of tweets addressed to Zille over the proposed revolt.

Interesting. @helenzille are Western Cape residents also encouraged to take part in a #taxrevolt? Just genuinely trying to understand how it would work. https://t.co/1EWBfrlBts

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

I have to this day, @helenzille remembered the words you told me as a young politician: “always stand firm on principle.” I live those words and my trying understand how a #taxrevolt is in line with the principles & values of our party.

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

Also the sacrosanct rule of law, which you valiantly fought hard when you were leader to uphold. I’m sure there are more than a dozen pieces you’ve written about how SA must always uphold the rule of law, and it applies to all, including the President (and by extension, Premiers)

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

What I am trying to understand is, where we govern, are you proposing we stop charging rates & taxes (we would have to support a tax revolt, as per your suggestion) or should residents just revolt? Or does it only apply to areas the DA doesn’t govern?

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

And in areas where the DA doesn’t govern, but some voted DA (I’m following your logic here) should they also bare the brunt of services grinding to a halt? Garbage everywhere & the vermin & disease that comes with that, etc. Is that what you envisage? Just trying to understand 😊

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

To add: your call for a #taxrevolt happened on regis weekend. Some may have not registered counting on a #taxrevolt to save them & not their votes. Playing devil’s advocate here: If the DA voters’ regis numbers are down, don’t you think you would be partly responsible for that?

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) January 31, 2019

Van Damme, who says she is “genuinely trying to understand” how the revolt would work, asks the Cape Town premier a number of questions.

Her final tweet, in which she says she is “playing devil’s advocate”, asks Zille if she shouldn’t be held “partly responsible” if DA voter registration numbers are down, as the call for a tax revolt was made on the final weekend in which people could register to vote.

Van Damme also asks Zille if the revolt would just apply to areas the DA doesn’t govern or also ones where it does, and if DA voters should also “bare the brunt” of services “grinding to a halt” if the revolt takes place.

READ MORE: Maimane’s future uncertain amid alleged plans to oust him – report

The Citizen contacted Zille, who said she will be writing a column addressing all these issues on the weekend.

She did say that “previous tax revolts, such as e-tolls and TV licences, have been massively popular with the DA and it’s leadership”.

“I suggest that the proposal in principle that I made would also enjoy significant support,” she continued.

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