DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) federal executive chairman James Self, has rejected as "cheap and shallow" claims of racism raised by two councillors who were expelled from the party in Makhado, Limpopo.
Kenny Maboho and Jerry Mahwai have accused provincial leader Desiree van der Walt of being "a professional racist", claiming she orchestrated charges against them of manipulating a candidate list during last year's municipal elections.
Selfe said Maboho and Mahwai were ranked seventh and tenth on a list of 10 candidates sanctioned by the party. But they had altered the list in their favour and ranked themselves third and fourth.
"(They) ... were elected to council by virtue of their altered position ... and were obliged to resign. They did not do so and were therefore prosecuted and expelled."