DA defectors ready to mobilise the ANC

The Democratic Alliance (DA) defectors in the Free State who have recently joined the African National Congress (ANC), say they are all ready to mobilise for the party, ahead of the local elections in August.
This after more than 30 DA defectors arrived at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo with ANC President Jacob Zuma’s entourage during the ANC’s provincial manifesto launch. The DA defectors followed Zuma along with other members of the national and provincial leadership, while they paraded around the stadium.
They were welcomed on the podium by ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) Deputy President, Sisi Ntombela. She told thousands of ANC members, gathered at the stadium, that the ANC cannot be compared to the DA and said they were happy to welcome the DA defectors ‘back home’. The members publicly removed their blue DA T-shirts and were given pairs of scissors to cut them. Most of them were already wearing ANC T-shirts underneath.
A former DA councillor from the Mangaung Municipality, Ernest Tobie, sent out a warning to the provincial DA leadership that they should be scared and prepared. Tobie says the ANC should expect more new members coming from the DA from across the province.
Amongst those who joined the ANC are five former Mangaung Municipality DA councillors and one councillor from Mantsopa Municipality. Two of the five Mangaung councillors who recently joined the ANC, were suspended by the DA early last year for ‘racial lines’ and were recently found guilty.
Meanwhile, DA’s provincial leader, Patricia Kopane, says events that played out on Saturday were mere dirty politics as some people were allegedly paid. Kopane says the DA’s Federal Legal Commission has found Tobie and Mpuse Mokone guilty of misconduct. Tobie’s membership has been terminated and Mokone has been fined and resigned from her executive positions.
“They both violated the party’s constitution and its underlying values of non-racialism. We already had a problem with the same people as they wanted to divide the party based on racial groups. They’re opportunists. Anyone is free to associate themselves with any political party of their choice. They’re not going to make it in the ANC. We are going to win the elections and will not be threatened by four people who are unhappy, disgruntled and don’t have moral ethics.”
Some of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) members who were present at the rally were Naledi Pandor, Mosebenzi Zwane, Tito Mboweni, Maggie Sotyu and Lindiwe Zulu. – Refilwe Gaeswe
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