The Democratic Alliance (DA) must take immediate and resolute action against a senior official of the Stellenbosch Municipality who, in a leaked video, is alleged to have made deplorable and racially charged remarks targeting white employees, particularly white men.
According to media reports, the individual in question is Mr. Alexander Kannemeyer, the Human Resources Manager of the Municipality, captured in conversation with two unidentified persons.
As reported by the Stellenbosch Monitor (“Leaked Video Has Municipal HR Manager in Hot Water,” 2nd September 2025), the essence of Mr. Kannemeyer’s statements is a call to get rid off white employees to meet transformation targets.
In a particularly egregious comment, he suggests that “life must be made difficult” for white workers to compel their resignation, thereby forcing them out.
He further asserts that the practice of appointing skilled and qualified individuals typically results in white candidates—particularly white men—being prioritised, and that this “must come to an end.” He also claims there are already too many white men in senior management positions.
According to him, appointing “unskilled” persons of colour would better serve the cause of transformation. The remainder of his remarks follow a similarly troubling theme.
Such statements are not only unlawful and discriminatory but also undermine the quality of service delivery and professional standards within the Municipality.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) condemns these views and utterances in the strongest possible terms. It is utterly shocking that a senior official would be willing to compromise service delivery in Stellenbosch merely to pursue transformation targets.
The DA, as the governing party in Stellenbosch, must clarify whether these views align with its policies. If not, the Freedom Front Plus expects an unequivocal repudiation of Mr. Kannemeyer’s statements and a public commitment to meritocratic principles.
South Africa’s current precarious situation is, in large part, a consequence of affirmative action (AA), black economic empowerment (BEE), and their associated practices, such as cadre deployment and widespread corruption.
Municipalities, state institutions, and the state itself have largely collapsed due to these policies.
The Freedom Front Plus demands the following:
• The immediate suspension of Mr. Kannemeyer pending a thorough and transparent investigation into his statements.
• A public statement from the DA reaffirming its stance on affirmative action and fair employment practices.
• Measures to ensure that municipal appointments are based on qualifications and merit, rather than racial or discriminatory grounds.
The Freedom Front Plus will closely monitor this matter and will bring it to the attention of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), taking further steps as necessary.
