Emma Powell's resignation linked to ANC tensions and US diplomatic relations, says expert

IOL News

a day ago

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Emma Powell, who has been accused of spreading disinformation to the US has stepped down from the position of the party's spokesperson for International Relations.
Image: X@EmmaPowell
Political analyst and international relations expert Professor Bheki Mngomezulu said he is not surprised by the resignation of Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Emma Powell, who has been accused of spreading disinformation to the US as the spokesperson for International Relations.
'This should not come as a surprise. Just the other day, the DA made a statement expressing concern that the South African government has not reached an agreement with the Trump administration on trade issues,' Mngomezulu said.
He said the move speaks to the continuation of the DA's pre-election posture, aligning more with the United States than the South African government, despite being part of the GNU.
Mngomezulu added that the current standoff between Pretoria and Washington is likely to cause friction not only between the DA and its coalition partners, including the African National Congress (ANC), but also within the DA itself.
'I don't know all the reasons why she decided to resign, but my sense is that it has to do with South Africa's relations with the US and differing opinions on how the matter should be handled both within the DA and in the coalition,' he said.
Earlier, IOL News reported that Powell announced in a statement that she was stepping down after more than two years in the role.
'Over the past two and a half years, I have traveled the world on behalf of my party, first as shadow minister and later as national spokesperson, speaking out against some of the most repressive and brutal regimes in the world,' she said.
Powell claimed that her advocacy work led to threats, intimidation, harassment, and illegal surveillance.
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'Driven by my commitment to the DA's foundational principles, I accepted these risks as the unavoidable cost of standing up to and exposing DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) and the ANC's relationships with authoritarian regimes,' she said.
The DA confirmed Powell's resignation in a separate statement and thanked her for her service. The party said she would soon be reassigned to a new portfolio.
DA national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau announced that Ryan Smith would replace Powell as the party's new spokesperson on international relations and cooperation.
Powell's departure comes after she took a trip to Washington, DC in March, along with former deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, Andrew Whitfield
President Cyril Ramaphosa later dismissed Whitfield for taking the trip without proper authorisation.
The DA said the visit was aimed at strengthening ties between South Africa and the US.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola previously said the party's actions undermined the constitutional prerogative of the executive in foreign policy matters.
'Africa's non-aligned stance and the advancement of our national interest remain central pillars of South Africa's foreign policy,' Lamola previously told IOL News.
He also criticised what he called misrepresentations of South Africa's land reform efforts, particularly the Expropriation Bill, insisting the legislation does not permit arbitrary land seizure.
Tensions between the DA and the ANC escalated further after Powell recently claimed that Ramaphosa's envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, had been denied entry and that his diplomatic credentials had been rejected. The Presidency denied the claims.
Powell, who has been a DA MP since 2019, is known for opposing ANC's foreign policies.
Mngomezulu said the ANC has long accused Powell of spreading disinformation to the US.
'Yes, that is true… In fact, the DA has been disingenuous in its relations with the US, because there are only three constitutional avenues for communication with the US, the ambassador, the DIRCO minister, and the presidency.'
He said the DA does not fall within those formal channels.
'So going there before the coalition government was constituted was wrong even then. It's even more wrong now because they are part of the government,' he said.
Mngomezulu said if Powell or Whitfield acted without authorisation, it becomes a serious issue.
He added that Powell's resignation appears to come from both her conflict with the ANC and tensions within the DA itself.
'Truth be told, not all DA members are acting in the manner that she and others have. Some are level-headed and more likely to see when things are not done properly.'
It is not clear where Powell will be reassigned, but the DA now faces scrutiny over its next move.
'The DA has often accused the ANC of recycling officials into new roles when they underperform. Are they not doing the same thing?' Mngomezulu said.
'If Powell has done anything wrong and admits to it, the party should act accordingly. But because she resigned voluntarily, she may be deployed elsewhere as long as she remains a member in good standing.'
He said Powell's situation highlights broader problems within the GNU.
'This coalition was built on shaky ground. It's a coalition of convenience, marked by an identity crisis between the ANC and DA, while the other eight parties are largely ignored,' he said.
'This is not how a coalition should function. It also shows that the president is not strong enough to manage the coalition, which is why the DA continues to act independently and even threatens to withdraw - before realising they would lose benefits, and deciding to stay despite dissatisfaction.'
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