'DA welcome to my deadwood'

MASHABA: LEADER WARNS 'ROGUE' ACTIONSA MEMBERS AS 32 CROSS TO ZILLE'S PARTY

- Itumeleng Mafisa

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has given a stern warning to “rogue” members of his party in the Johannesburg caucus.

This comes after one of ActionSA’s councillors, Mandla Nyaqela, and 31 other branch members from Soweto defected to the DA.

They were welcomed into the DA by Helen Zille at an event held in Dobsonville yesterday.

The group reportedly sent their termination of membership letters to ActionSA yesterday morning.

“One thing that they must know is that if you do not carry out your public responsibility and you carry yourself in a way that compromises our party, we will not tolerate that,” Mashaba said.

Mashaba had been informed that three councillors were absent at a Joburg council meeting yesterday. He said the party will look at their reasons for being absent.

But Mashaba is not surprised Nyaqela joined the DA.

“He was facing a disciplinary hearing already.”

According to Mashaba, Nyaqela was arrested on a charge of gender-based violence during a council meeting last year. There were other incidents of misconduct against him as well, he said.

“We are happy for Helen to take him and his friends.”