GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
The DA has acknowledged that its MPs who travelled to Israel to whitewash the genocidal actions of the Israeli Defense Force should be disciplined.
During a Democracy Unplugged podcast hosted by Podcast Party SA last night, Democratic Alliance National Spokesperson Karabo Khakhau made a startling, and important, claim: the DA did not approve the recent trip to Israel by its MPs, and, in her words, “you can’t go there and pretend you’re not an MP.” Khakhau went further, acknowledging that the DA should take disciplinary action against the parliamentarians who joined the controversial delegation.
Until now, the DA hasn’t publicly condemned the trip nor denounced the delegation’s “findings” that there is “no apartheid” situation in Israel / Palestine. Khakhau’s candid response underscores that MPs cannot separate their public office from their private interests, a fundamental principle that these MPs violated by going rogue. And even if she was caught off guard by the “loaded” question, she did not cease to be the party’s spokesperson during a public interview.
Yet in the almost two months since the trip came to light, no action has been taken.
It is now incumbent on the DA to follow through on its spokesperson’s statement. Silence or inaction will confirm complicity. This isn’t only about party discipline, it’s about accountability, national coherence, and respect for South Africa’s foreign policy and legal position.
These MPs, whose party is a member of the GNU, chose to ignore the official stance of the South African government, which has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza. In doing so, they undermined our democratic institutions and international standing.
Now that the DA has admitted the trip violated its own protocols, the public must ask if there will be consequences, or will political privilege protect those who defy our democracy’s principles?
*The full episode of Democracy Unplugged will be available on @PodcastPartySA tomorrow https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastPartysa
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