DA kicks out Kohler Barnard, Terblanche

Democratic Alliance MPs Dianne Kohler Barnard and Juanita Terblanche have been expelled from the party.

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Cape Town – Democratic Alliance MPs Dianne Kohler Barnard and Juanita Terblanche have been expelled from the DA, the party said on Friday.

 “Today [Friday], the DA federal executive met to discuss, among other matters, the findings of the Federal Legal Commission (FLC) in respect of the matters concerning Dianne Kohler Barnard MP and Juanita Terblanche MP,” DA national spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme said in a statement.

“The federal executive accepted the FLC’s finding that Ms Kohler Barnard is guilty of misconduct. The federal executive further resolved that Ms Kohler Barnard’s membership of the DA be terminated.”

Kohler Barnard had the right to an internal appeal.

“In the matter of Juanita Terblanche, the federal executive upheld the FLC’s finding that Ms Terblanche’s appeal be dismissed. Accordingly, Ms Terblanche’s membership is terminated,” Van Damme said.

On September 15, Kohler Barnard shared a Facebook post by someone else which said education, health, and the police service were better during the apartheid-era rule of former president PW Botha. The post went viral and drew considerable criticism.

She subsequently deleted the post and apologised unreservedly. At the DA’s internal disciplinary hearing earlier this month, she pleaded guilty to charges of misconduct and bringing the party into disrepute.

 African News Agency

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