DA CANDIDATE APOLOGISES FOR ‘FAGGOT’ REMARK
Carlos da Rocha, a Democratic Alliance (DA) municipal election candidate, has apologised to gay people for calling metro police “faggots”, reports The Star newspaper.
Da Rocha, who is a candidate for ward 66 in Betrams/Bez Valley, Johannesburg, made the comments two years ago on his Facebook page while ranting against police for having fined him for not wearing a seatbelt.
He wrote: “You know ma china very soon im gonna let one have it (referring to metro cops) with a pick handle. its coming and its closer than they realise…”. He later added, “I feel that these metro cops are a bunch of faggots…”
Da Rocha has apologised for using the word, saying that it was a mistake.
“I am not sexist or anti-gay. I was angry at the time because metro cops stopped and fined me for not wearing a seatbelt, yet they were ignoring the window washers who harass and threaten motorists all day long at intersections,” he said.
“If I offended anyone, I apologise – the community does not deserve that. We all make mistakes, and I said things that no politician should say.”
The comments will come as an acute embarrassment to the DA. The party has positioned itself as a gay-friendly party, regularly slamming the government for not defending LGBT rights in its actions internationally and at the UN.
The DA was also the first South African political party to boast an openly gay MP.
Fire Him!. Mistake or no mistake – he is a public figure and should keep his personal rants personal
Not good enough. You want my vote you will treat me like gold. Otherwise f*** u.
DA fag. Da Rocha should step down if he cares for what he supposedly believes in. He should be brought to task and held accountable – thats what is done in a democracy.
The preciousness of it all … yes let’s get distracted by namecalling instead of asking the real question of what is wrong with the system in general? Spud all over again??? An inefficient dysfunctional police police system is of greater concern than one man’s poor expression of his frustration and anger …. remember when last you may have referred to heterosexuals as “breeders”??
Looks gay. To me he looks gay himself!