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The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, calls by the chairperson of parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Supra Mahumapelo, for the creation of a domestic policy to “deal with those that lie about their own country”. The comments were made in an eNCA interview in reference to South Africans living in the United States of America (USA) who are critical of ANC policies.

Mahumapelo’s comments equate to a dangerous attack on the constitutional right to freedom of expression in our country’s democratic system and seek to undermine the very foundation of South African liberal democracy for which tens of thousands fought and died. Each and every South African citizen has the right to question and critique their government and its policies free of persecution – that is how free democracies work.

South Africans have varying views on the politics of the Trump administration, but that does not give the African National Congress (ANC) or its MPs the right to prevent domestic policies from facing public scrutiny, nor does it give Mahumapelo and his party the right to attack any citizen who questions their efficacy. ANC domestic policy is not a party-political dictat that is beyond reproach, and the ANC’s MPs have no right to attack our constitutional freedoms and dictate to South Africans how and what to think. South Africa is not an ANC-run dictatorship.

Criticism of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act is evident in its failure to deliver opportunity to most poor South Africans. Since the Act’s implementation over 20 years ago, South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has dropped, our economy has shrunk, more South Africans are living in poverty, and state corruption has grown out of control. There is absolutely nothing untrue about genuine criticism of a domestic policy that has made South Africa poorer and the ANC richer.

Furthermore, criticism of the Expropriation Act is justified given that this flawed piece of legislation is wholly incompatible with the right to private property as enshrined in the constitution. The ANC does not get to attack any South African citizen who has a genuine interest in protecting and upholding our most vital founding legislation which they themselves helped craft.

Mahumapelo’s comments put on full display the ANC’s arrogantly selective support for South Africa’s democratic institutions and principles. If the ANC wants to formally legislate the monitoring and punishment of citizens critical of their own government, then they have descended into anti-democratic depths that South Africans have not seen since 1994.

As the DA we remain firmly committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law. Individual rights such as freedom of expression are not up for negotiation in South Africa. The ANC does not have a divine right to govern our country in perpetuity and devoid of public criticism. The DA will not tolerate any attacks by ANC MPs on our constitutional freedoms. We call on all South Africans to exercise their constitutional right to criticise and hold the ANC to account at the polls on 4 November.

Issued by DA Spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith