The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Emma Powell has resigned as a spokesperson for the party on international relations amid criticism about the effects of her trips to the USA where she was found to have been amplifying the misinformation campaign against South Africa.
One of the trips initiated by Powell resulted in the dismissal by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the DA’s Andrew Whitfield as the Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition. Whitfield had gone on the trip without Ramaphosa’s permission.
“After careful reflection, I have taken the decision to step down as Spokesperson on International Relations for the Democratic Alliance. Over the past two and a half years, I have travelled the world on behalf of my party, first as Shadow Minister and later as National Spokesperson, speaking out against some of the most repressive and brutal regimes in the world. Many of these regimes are more closely enmeshed with government leaders and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) than the public realises,” said Powell in a statement announcing her resignation.
Powell came under heavy criticism for her trips to the USA and Israel where she’s believed to have been allegedly grossly misrepresenting positions of South Africa and bad mouthing the country. As she quits her role, Powell paints herself as a victim claiming she had been targeted, victimised and spied on for raising concerns about what she says are brutal regimes that are in her view close to the government of South Africa.
The DA’s perceived support of the false white genocide narrative has also led to tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU) with some calling for the blue party to be booted out of the coalition for acting as an opposition within the government. Her resignation is seen as part of an attempt by the DA to redeem itself in the GNU after several blunders that have pitted the party against the ANC and to soften Ramaphosa who swiftly fired Whitfield.
“Given the complexities of our fragile Government of National Unity, I have achieved what I can for and in this moment. We must each do what is possible to tip the worlds axis towards freedom, but good leaders know when it is time to step back and allow others to carry the baton forward,” said Powell.
“The ANC notes with concern the ongoing disinformation campaign by Democratic Alliance MP Emma Powell against South Africa, and her apparent efforts to undermine the South African government’s response to the United States’ new tariff regime,” said the ANC of Powell’s engagements abroad.
In response to the ANC, Powell said: “I am a lifelong liberal who has represented South Africa with distinction on the world stage, often under very difficult circumstances. I’ve waved our flag high, and I’ve told the truth. The ANC has been exposed for misleading the public and failing to act as the US tariff deadline looms. Now, with their backs against the wall, they reach for the oldest trick in the book: racially-loaded deflection. It’s cowardly, it’s transparent, and it’s an insult to the intelligence of all South Africans. I remain unmoved.”
Powell is yet to explain herself on an alleged secret trip to Israel during which she asserted that there was no genocide against the Palestinians sparking criticism in South Africa.
She had gone on the trip with several other MPs from the ACDP, Patriotic Alliance and the DA.