NUM reacts to Ramphele
Mamphela Ramphele was trying to project herself as a "messiah" who was above everyone else by joining the Democratic Alliance, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.
"She is no messiah. She is a political tourist, political opportunist and a rented black," said NUM general secretary Frans Baleni in a statement.
"All we know is that Ramphele is joining a party that is desperately in need of black faces whilst it has no agenda to transform the social and economic needs of the majority black citizens in our country."
Zille announced on Tuesday that Ramphele would join the DA and stand as its presidential candidate in the upcoming general election. Ramphele started a "political platform" about a year ago, then launched the party last June.
"We don't believe a person who failed to even give a sustainable life to her newly born party will make any impact on the lives of blacks other than to entrench [the] backwardness of the DA," said Baleni.
He claimed that Ramphele became rich during her tenure as chairperson of Goldfields Limited but failed to transform the mining industry.
"This political tourist was just a seat warmer and cheque collector who enjoyed cocktails and other elitist gravies while poor mineworkers continue to earn poverty wages."
-Sapa