Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has backed party leader John Steenhuisen’s decision to appoint the controversial Roman Cabanac as the party’s chief of staff in the Department of Agriculture.
Party spokesperson Willie Aucamp said that the DA endorsed Steenhuisen’s choice, adding that the leader had carefully considered the appointment, according to IOL.
Steenhuisen’s decision, made discreetly, sparked significant controversy due to Cabanac’s controversial views.
Cabanac had previously campaigned unsuccessfully for the Capitalist Party of SA and is known for his Morning Shot Podcast.
He also co-hosted the Renegade Report, which drew criticism from the Jewish community over his extremist views.
Although Cabanac and Steenhuisen did not have a personal relationship, they had interacted professionally when Steenhuisen appeared on Cabanac’s podcast.”
The DA is once again in hot water for racist remarks. Roman Cabanac, a controversial podcaster, has been appointed as the chief of staff in the office of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. His appointment comes shortly after the uproar over the appointment of another… pic.twitter.com/reiC73PBPN
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 28, 2024
According to News24, Cabanac said Steenhuisen had approached him personally to be the chief of staff within his department and said he was comfortable with the appointment as there weren’t many “woke people in the department”.
Cabanac said his previous experiences with large teams in the private sector and the non-profit sector make him a suitable candidate for the position.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen