Kohler Barnard apologises for PW Botha Facebook post
The Democratic Alliance's shadow Minister for Police, Dianne Kohler Barnard has apologised after sharing a post on Facebook last month that praised PW Botha.
The post, originally by a Facebook user called Paul Kirk, calls for the return of PW Botha and claims better services were provided under his government.
It also says the health and education systems functioned better.
The incident has caused a storm on social media, with PW Botha among the top Twitter trends in Durban this morning.
The DA's Refiloe Ntsekhe says Kohler Barnard had not read the whole post before sharing it.
"She's apologised and obviously the DA needs to go through its own internal processes to make sure that this doesn't happen again." she said.
Kohler Barnard tweeted that she deleted the post as soon as she realised its content.
I apologise unreservedly for sharing a post on FB in the midst of which the author praised PW Botha.I erased it immediately I realised.
— Dianne KohlerBarnard (@DKB20) October 1, 2015This morning we wake up to this tragedy - DA MP wishes apartheid never ended and thinks PW Botha was the best. pic.twitter.com/zc8EzMA68Q
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) October 1, 2015The post by @DKB20 is indefensible. She has withdrawn it and apologized. now our internal disciplinary processes will be dealing with this.
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) October 1, 2015@DKB20 Please withdraw that post and apologise unconditionally. It is indefensible, even if you missed the P W Botha bit.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) October 1, 2015Read the DA's official response below.
Democratic Alliance MP, Dianne Kohler Barnard’s shared post on Facebook is indefensible and is completely inconsistent with the DA’s values of freedom, fairness and opportunity.
DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, has therefore referred this offensive post to the party’s Federal Legal Commission – and an internal disciplinary process will now be initiated.
Ms Kohler Barnard has already apologised unreservedly.
PW Botha was a tyrant, who oversaw torture and murder of thousands of South Africans. That is why our predecessors, including Helen Suzman and Helen Zille, fought against the evil system of Apartheid.
The DA is committed to building one nation, with one future, reversing the legacy of Apartheid and creating opportunities for all.
(Photo: Twitter)