By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ActionSA and Bongani Baloyi have officially parted ways after he was asked by the party to surrender his position as Gauteng provincial leader.
In a brief statement, “the party said following meetings held between ActionSA President Herman Mashaba and Bongani Baloyi, it has been mutually agreed that ActionSA and Baloyi will go their separate ways.
Fullview has reported that there is tension between the founder of the party Mashaba and Baloyi
“At the previous meeting on 6 March 2023, Mashaba made the offer to Baloyi for him to take up the mantle of National Spokesperson, a senior national position within ActionSA which is automatically represented on the Senate (ActionSA’s highest decision-making body). Today Baloyi declined this offer and tendered his resignation, said the party.
The former DA member and the youngest elected mayor of Midvaal, Baloyi was recruited by ActionSA last year to lead Gauteng ahead of the 2024 elections.
ActionSA’s national leadership thanks Baloyi for his service to ActionSA and wishes him well in his future endeavours, added the party.
The party structures in the province have been troubled for months, with problems plaguing the party’s caucus in the City of Tshwane.
The party had suspended several councillors because of allegations of bullying.
Last year, the party terminated the membership of Sizwe Skhosana due to severe misconduct allegations.
It was also conducting investigations of two other members, Andre le Roux and Kgosie Kgosiemang, who were accused of influencing a property sale in the city.
Four other members of the Tshwane council faced a probe into “disruptive” behaviour. In November 2022, the party terminated Abel Tau’s membership following sexual assault allegations and he has since started his own political party, United Africans Transformation.
However Baloyi told journalists that Mashaba called him into a meeting last week and told him that he did not trust him and could no longer work with him.
“Mashaba said there were irreconcilable differences between us and could no longer work with me. He also said he had problems with how I have been managing the province,” said Baloyi.
“I was baffled at that moment because I could not understand how in one breath he could say there was a trust deficit and in the other say we should work in such close proximity,” said Baloyi.
He said he did not regret joining ActionSA.
Baloyi said it was because of him that the party in Gauteng now had strong structures, and this could have been the reason why he was seen as a threat.
Funzile Ngobeni has since been appointed to replace Baloyi as the party’s Gauteng provincial chairperson.