GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament

14 March 2023

DA Member of Parliament Ghaleb Cachalia revealed his true bigoted colours on Twitter today when he responded to criticism of Helen Zille by an environmental journalist by suggesting the journalist stick to “applauding the stance of an autistic 20 yr old”.

Cachalia was referring to the widely respected Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is 20-years-old and for several years has been very open about being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.

In 2019, she wrote on Twitter: “When haters go after your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere left to go. And then you know you’re winning!”

Cachalia’s Tweet uses autism as a label for derision and alienation, while at the same time mocking and dismissing Thunberg’s climate change work due to her being on the autism spectrum.

The DA must decide if Cachalia is of suitable character to represent it as an MP. In the meantime, the party must instruct him to delete his Tweet and apologise for his bigotry.

*Cachalia is, ironically, the son of well-known anti-apartheid activists of integrity.

Media Enquiries:

Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za

Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za