Emma Powellon Monday announced her resignation as the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) International Relations spokesperson in Parliament, amid claims of threats, intimidation, harassment, and illegal surveillance.

Powell made headlines earlier this month, when she came under fire for allegedly spreading disinformation about South Africa during a trip to the US, and for allegedly undermining the South African government’s response that seeks to roll back the US’s new tariff regime, amid the already strained relationship between both countries.

On X, Powell wrote that after “careful reflection”, she has taken the decision to step down as spokesperson, noting that over the past two-and-a-half years, she has travelled the world on behalf of the DA, first as Shadow Minister and later as national spokesperson, where she spoke out “against some of the most repressive and brutal regimes in the world”.

She claimed that many of these regimes were enmeshed with government leaders and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).

“In defending South Africa’s constitutional values on the international stage, I have been threatened, intimidated, harassed, and illegally surveilled. Driven by my commitment to the DA’s foundational principles, I accepted these risks as the unavoidable cost of standing up to and exposing Dirco and the ANC’s relationships with authoritarian regimes,” she stated.

Powell went further to state that as a woman in politics, she understood “viscerally” the cost of standing up to “bullies” and the pressures that came with public life.

“In an environment that rewards expediency, truly principled leadership is rare and often costly. I am profoundly grateful to every South African, diplomat, and colleague who has supported me along this journey. This world is full of remarkable, principled people who know that the cost of silence is far greater than the risk of confronting tyranny when the stakes are highest,” she said.

Powell noted that given the complexities of the country’s “fragile” Government of National Unity, she had achieved what she could.

“…we must each do what is possible to tip the worlds axis towards freedom, but good leaders know when it is time to step back and allow others to carry the baton forward. I remain thankful to the leadership of the Democratic Alliance for the trust you placed in me to fly South Africa’s flag on the international stage,” she said.

Ryan Smith will replace Powell as the party’s spokesperson on the International Relations portfolio in Parliament, said DA Chief Whip George Michalakis.

He said Powell remains a "valued member" of the DA caucus in Parliament, and the party will soon announce her new Portfolio allocation.

“Our spokespersons on portfolios lead the party’s efforts in Parliament on those portfolios and speak for the party in matters affecting those portfolios. They are mandated by the party to hold the Executive to account in Committee and in the Legislature, and to land DA policy in the national agenda,” he said.