Phumzile van Damme

Phumzile Van Damme (born 20 July 1983) is a Democratic Alliance Member of the National Assembly of South Africa who was elected at the 2014 South African general election. She is the former Shadow Communications Minister and is a former Spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance.[1][2] She was educated at Lyttelton Manor High School and graduated from Rhodes University in 2007.[3]

The Honourable

Phumzile Van Damme

MP
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
7 May 2014
Shadow Minister of Communications
In office
3 October 2015 – 5 December 2020
Preceded byGavin Davis
Succeeded byZakhele Mbhele
National Spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance
In office
6 May 2014 – 14 February 2018
Preceded byMmusi Maimane
Personal details
Born (1983-07-20) 20 July 1983
Manzini, Swaziland
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
Alma materRhodes University

As spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance she claimed that Bell Pottinger tried to divide and conquer South Africans by abusing racial tensions in a bid to keep controversial South African President Jacob Zuma and his party, the African National Congress (ANC), in power despite ongoing reports of "State Capture" by the Gupta family.[4] Bell Pottinger were subsequently expelled from the Public Relations and Communications Association in September 2017.[5]

In December 2020, the DA parliamentary leader John Steenhuisen demoted her from the shadow cabinet and replaced her with Zakhele Mbhele. He also extended her three-months' sick leave by another three. Consequently, she accused Steenhuisen of trying to sideline her and said that she would be challenging it.[6][7][8] The DA has, however, insisted that Van Damme has not been sidelined and that she will continue with her parliamentary duties.[9]

References
  1. "DA not done yet with Bell Pottinger". News24. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. "PR firm Bell Pottinger failed in 'race hate' campaign". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. "PHUMZILE VAN DAMME". Who's Who of Southern Africa. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. "Bell Pottinger probed for stoking racial tension in SA". Sunday Times (South Africa). 4 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. "Bell Pottinger expelled from trade body for South African campaign". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. Davis, Rebecca (8 December 2020). "Steenhuisen benches Phumzile van Damme – supporters are outraged". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  7. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/das-phumzile-van-damme-refuses-to-take-sabbatical-forced-on-her-by-steenhuisen-20201204
  8. "Van Damme to challenge Steenhuisen over decision to grant her a sabbatical - that she did not ask for". IOL. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. Ndenze, Babalo (7 December 2020). "DA insists Phumzile van Damme is not being sidelined despite forced sabbatical". EWN. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mmusi Maimane		 National Spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance
2014–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent


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