'Illiberal, divisive DA will never reach the black voters' - Rise Mzansi's Zibi

CAPE TOWN - Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its leader John Steenhuisen of being the worst kind of “swart gevaar”.

He also says the party will never reach black voters if it wants to govern South Africa because of its divisive and illiberal approach.

Zibi was addressing the Cape Town Press Club on Wednesday, where he also responded to Steenhuisen, who at the weekend bemoaned small parties campaigning against the DA in the Western Cape.

Steenhuisen at the weekend warned supporters against voting the DA out of power, while calling parties like Rise Mzansi and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) mercenaries for campaigning in the DA-run province.

But this didn’t sit well with the political parties, with Zibi saying it borders on racism.

"This is swart gevaar because in there is a racist dog whistle. It is illiberal, it is divisive, and it further proof that the DA under [Helen] Zille and Steenhuisen will never reach the black voters it needs if it is to govern South Africa."

He said it’s the reason why many black credible DA leaders have abandoned the party.

Zibi joined other unrepresented parties like Build One SA and the Roger Jardine-led Change Starts Now to address the Cape Town Press Club to share his party’s vision before the elections.