As DA hits 4m votes, Zille reckons Ramphele committed political suicide

From the SA Press Association:

Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele committed political suicide by turning down the opportunity to lead the Democratic Alliance, as evidenced by the results, the DA said on Friday.

"Mamphela has destroyed her political brand and value," DA leader Helen Zille told reporters at the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) national results operations centre in Pretoria.

"She had a big brand value before voters rejected her."

Zille said Ramphele could have added to the consolidation of opposition if she had stayed with the DA.

In February Zille announced Ramphele would be the DA's presidential candidate in the election, but the agreement which was sealed with what many described as the "kiss of death" did not even last for 48 hours.

Zille described Ramphele's back tracking on the agreement as the last straw which pushed voters to the DA.

"The move actually took the majority of those who were going to vote for her to us," she said.

Agang SA had managed 50,738 votes by 3pm, meaning she would probably get one seat in Parliament.

However, Zille warned her that one-person parties struggled in the National Assembly and most of the time could not attend many of the portfolio committees.

"One person parties in Parliament don't make a difference," she said.

The Democratic Alliance cheered as it hit the four-million mark in the national elections on Friday.

Just before 3.30pm, preliminary results showed the party had received 4,002,663 votes so far — 22.15 percent of the national vote.

In 2009, the party received 2,945,829 votes — 16.66 percent.

Leader Helen Zille and fellow party members at the Electoral Commission of SA's national result centre ululated as the numbers on the big blue result board changed.

"Uyatatazela… mshini wam, mshini wam (the machine is shaking in fear)," Zille sang in clear reference to President Jacob Zuma.

In 2007, Zuma became know for the song "mshini wam" (bring me my machine gun).