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After an explosive revelation that he had allegedly been granted an unsolicited sabbatical from DA leader John Steenhuisen, DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has once again taken to Twitter to lament the way it has been addressed by the party leader.
This after he extended his three months of sick leave for another three, saying he is concerned for his health.
“He just informed me. I could walk away, but I choose to stay and challenge him on principle, ”the deputy and shadow minister of Communications and Digital Technologies tweeted before launching into a thread detailing her perspective on the issue.
Your current period of sick leave was scheduled to end on December 15, 2020.
ALSO READ: DA’s Steenhuisen Woos Ekurhuleni in a Campaign Blitz
In response to words of support from former Gauteng prime minister turned Cope deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa, Van Damme took the opportunity to insist once again that, although he has been fighting for his health, he has in no way diminished his ability to do their job. .
My point uncle Mbhaz. I am not a child. I’m a grown woman. I make my own decisions about my body based on what medical professionals tell me. I had a firm grip on my health. I limited work while sick to just portfolio committee work, which I handled well AND excelled https://t.co/twdqzzn1fC
– Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) December 5, 2020
During that time, I forced Stella to appoint a full ICASA board. I got Parliament to stop interfering with the SABC. I got the Minister to stop interfering with the SABC. If I wanted to move as is your prerogative, I should have done so without trying to control my life and my body https://t.co/aMs8ULvk9e
– Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) December 5, 2020
He also took time to laugh at some of the reactions to his initial thread about his sabbatical.
Please note that the following videos may contain strong language:
JOHN: Take some time off. Take a sabbatical.
PHUMZILE: pic.twitter.com/oj13IpULux
– Portia Gumede (@portiagumedesa) December 4, 2020
Phumzile when John told him that he had been given a sabbatical … pic.twitter.com/JbQH8E3jaH
– The villager (@Penxenxe) December 4, 2020
Sabbatical
In a letter sent to Van Damme on Friday, Steenhuisen said he would grant him a three-month sabbatical from all parliamentary responsibilities, ending on March 30 next year, to allow him to focus on his health and ensure he receives the “ necessary treatment, rest and rehabilitation without the distraction of added stress and responsibility ”.
Steenhuisen wrote: “I remain deeply concerned about his health situation and the four chronic diseases that have been diagnosed. I understand that these have become incredibly debilitating for you to perform daily functions, such as walking, due to chronic pain, vertigo, and dizziness. I also know that you need significant periods of bed rest. “
He said that because December and January are fairly quiet periods on the parliamentary calendar, it would be “an opportune time for this sabbatical year.”
He said, although he understood that she was passionate about her job, “I would be failing in my duty as a leader if I didn’t take into account the pain and challenges she’s experiencing and step in to make sure she focuses on getting better.” .
He told News24: “I had to make changes to my shadow cabinet after my election, having inherited a shadow cabinet that I did not name. It is the leader’s prerogative to do so and has been exercised by all DA leaders.
“This is a decision made in consultation with the caucus leadership and with Ms. Van Damme’s best interests in mind, I am sorry I am trying to portray it otherwise.”
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