By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former ActionSA leader in Gauteng Bongani Baloyi is the latest high-profile politician to join the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Baloyi joins MK Party following his party Xiluva’s dismal election showing in the 29 May elections.
During the briefing, Baloyi confirmed that he will deregister Xiluva and also encouraged its members to join the MK Party.
“Xiluva party will be deregistered with the IEC and its members will also become ground forces for the MK Party, Baloyi said.
“The executive of Xiluva unanimously agreed we are going to deregister Xiluva with the IEC effective immediately, the collective leadership will join the MK Party and the collective leaders will encourage members to join the MK Party.”
“We gave everything we had at the 2024 elections campaign but we did not achieve our goal. We were devastated. However we remain proud of our collective efforts and the work of our structures,” said Baloyi.
He also said he believed in political organisations that put the needs of black people first.
“The time for fragmentation is over. We tried to contest elections but did not succeed. People endorsed and appreciated what uMkhonto is doing because there was a need [for the party]. So, when we looked at uMkhonto we saw ourselves,” said Baloyi.
This is Baloyi’s fourth party switch over a short time, but he says he had valid reasons for leaving each one. The DA’s black caucus was left adrift when its former leader, Mmusi Maimane, left the party. Regarding ActionSA, he said the party was against his suggestion that they work with the ANC, although they recently changed their tune, Baloyi left after a year to form Xiluva.
Baloyi made history as the country’s youngest mayor at 26 when he took the reins in Midvaal, the first DA-run municipality in Gauteng. Under his leadership, Midvaal became the best-performing municipality in the country and secured six unqualified audit outcomes.