The national chairperson of the Patriotic Alliance, Marlon Daniels, said that he has apologised to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, for a second time after calling her a ’bitch’ on a video that he had posted on social media when he was sworn in as a councillor at Sol Plaatje Municipality this week.
THE NATIONAL chairperson of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Marlon Daniels, said that he has apologised to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, for a second time after calling her a “bitch” on a video that he had posted on social media when he was sworn in as a councillor at Sol Plaatje Municipality this week.
Members of his party were prevented from disrupting the council meeting on Wednesday when they tried to stop Daniels from being sworn in. They were warned that they should not cause disunity and would be charged for bringing the party into disrepute.
Daniels replaced Shariefa Ferris as a PA councillor, while party members claimed that Daniels was chased away from Nelson Mandela Bay for his rude behaviour.
“He made a video that went viral on social media where he called PA councillors in Kimberley useless and incompetent and accused Angie Motshekga of being a bitch,” they said, adding that he told “evangelists to go to hell and that he would f*** them up”.
“We feel insulted and are offended by his utterances.”
Party members indicated that the incumbent councillor should reside in the Province and should have been voted in by the branches.
“There are more than enough competent and capable members who can stand as councillors (in the Province). It is degrading to be called “useless” . . . we refuse to work with him.
“How is it that someone from outside of the Northern Cape can represent voters within the Province? Daniels was imposed on us. He is rude and obnoxious and attacks members on public platforms.
“The party should have disciplined Daniels, but instead he was deployed to the Northern Cape. We will tell people not to vote for the PA and we will break down the party – that is how ‘useless’ we are.”
PA spiritual leader in ward one Graham Ross felt personally attacked by Daniel’s remarks.
He has written letters to PA president Gayton McKenzie expressing his unhappiness over how councillors were randomly replaced.
“Please intervene and call off the deployment of Marlon Daniels to Sol Plaatje. His actions and rude behaviour and transgressions on the video that went viral is enough evidence to save the face and dignity of our party. The national executive committee (NEC) is supposed to serve him with a disciplinary notification.
“We can’t and will not allow the undermining spirit towards our local and provincial leadership as well as the foot soldiers on the ground. Kimberley and the broader Northern Cape has got enough capacity in leadership skills.”
Ross believed that councillors were being removed to “satisfy the dictatorship strategy of some individuals”.
“The voters and members are the backbone of the party. I cannot and will not allow such heinous and disrespectful acts to unfold in front of my eyes. The issue of coalition is also a thorn in the flesh because our people do not benefit at ground level.”
In response, Daniels said that he had agreed to apologise to Motshekga. “I offered a public apology to her for the second time at the meeting. It was unbecoming of me – it was said in the heat of the moment. I was in a state of rage and frustration. I apologise to her and all mothers.”
He stated that he was at his wits’ end over the challenges of education, where young children had to walk several kilometres in order to attend school after the Department of Education stopped funding school transport.
“I do not know to whom that pastor is praying. He is praying that I should not be welcome in Kimberley – it shows that he is consumed by dirty, evil spirits. It is unbecoming of a man of the cloth. Nothing will stand in my way of bringing about service delivery to the community of Kimberley.
“I will deal with you in the same manner in which I am dealt with. I will not be threatened or intimidated.”
Daniels indicated that as he was prepared to “go back home” once he has accomplished what he set out to do in Kimberley.
“I’m not here to pay lip service or collect a pay cheque, I am here to do the work . . . 24 hours around the clock.”
He denied that he was chased away from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
“There is a new sheriff in town. I was deployed by the NEC to the Sol Plaatje Municipality because of my experience in Nelson Mandela Bay. It was not my choice or plan to become a councillor. I came here because I am a disciplined member of the party.
“A year after councillors assumed positions at Sol Plaatje , there is no difference in service delivery. A change of guard is necessary to bring about change. Those members who wanted to disrupt the council meeting on Wednesday can leave with immediate effect.”
He stated that he would take the existing PA councillors under his wing.
“Some people take a bit longer to latch on and learn and given that these councillors are for the first time in council, I will show them the ropes. We have decided to give them a chance and have not removed them.”
Daniels indicated that member of the mayoral committee (MMC) Emile Adams would become a proportional representative while he would take over the MMC post.
“Shariefa Ferris is the premier candidate for 2024 and she will need the time to travel throughout the Province – she will have a dedicated cap.”
He explained that they were committed to making the coalition with the ANC work.
“If it is not working then I will engage with the provincial leadership and exhaust all avenues. Withdrawing from the coalition is a last resort.”
