Zille opens DA doors as ActionSA activists jump ship

Zille

Johannesburg – Democratic Alliance’s (DA) mayoral candidate for Johannesburg Helen Zille, has welcomed more than 50 new members, including former ActionSA activists, who joined the Democratic Alliance ahead of the local political contest.

Among those who defected was Mandla Nyaqela, who joined the DA together with other former ActionSA branch members.

Zille said the new members believe the DA offers better prospects for governance, service delivery, and economic development in Johannesburg.

“People are beginning to understand that the best way to get water, electricity, clean neighbourhoods, investment and jobs is through the kind of good governance that the DA has a record in delivering,” The Citizen quoted her as saying.

She further claimed that more defections were expected, arguing that the DA remains the party best positioned to lead the city to success for its residents.

The DA also suggested that the arrival of the new members could strengthen its campaign structure while potentially weakening ActionSA’s organisational presence in areas such as Soweto.

The defections come amid heightened competition among opposition parties as they prepare for upcoming electoral contests in the city.

Meanwhile, ActionSA confirmed the exit of one of its Johannesburg PR councillors.

Nyaqela formally resigned from ActionSA on Thursday.

However, according to EWN, ActionSA caucus leader Marcel Courtriers said the departing councillor had been underperforming despite holding office.

“ActionSA has demonstrated that it will not retain underperforming public representatives because we respect the mandate given by residents for hardworking, accountable community representation, and where even the most basic expectations are not met, we have not hesitated to act.”

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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