Lungani Zungu
The decades-long relationship between former KwaZulu-Natal DA leader Zwakele Mncwango and his party has ended nastily, with Mncwango labeling the official opposition as a “bitter ex”.
Mncwango resigned from the legislature on Wednesday and subsequently from the party on Saturday, as predicted by Scrolla.Africa last week.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa on Sunday, Mncwango said he is still weighing his options on which party he will join.
But speculation is rife that he is heading to Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA. Even his now former party, DA, said in a statement that he would be joining ActionSA.
“I have been talking with ActionSA for a long time but I have not decided whether I would join them or not. But this is politics and a day is a long time,” Mncwango told Scrolla.Africa.
Three ActionSA insiders, independent of each other, corroborated Scrolla.Africa’s story published last week that Mncwango would be welcomed as the party’s new provincial leader after the axing of former ANC MP Makhosi Khosa in March.
Mncwango rose through the ranks of the DA and in 2015 successfully dislodged Sizwe Mchunu as KZN provincial leader in a congress that was held in Richards Bay, north of Durban.
“I’m not in politics for my self-enrichment, but I’m desperate to serve the people,” he said.
Mncwango then took a swipe at Helen Zille, DA chairperson of the Federal Council.
So dirty was the break-up between Mncwango and the DA that even his long-time backer DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers turned against him.
“We feel he needs to come clean with the public and his new party as to why he saw it fit to enjoy the perks of his office in the legislature, at the pleasure of the DA, while planning his departure to his new political party,” said Rodgers.
These perks, according to Rodgers, included an overseas trip last month to Norway and Uganda which cost taxpayers an estimated R150 000.
“We now understand that he will take up the position of ActionSA chairperson in KZN before the end of October, which was his plan since he announced his first resignation earlier this week. “Whatever spin that he may try and put on his departure, it is important that the public know the truth behind his resignation,” said Rodgers in his parting shot.
