By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Chaos erupted at an ActionSA meeting in Tshwane yesterday with tables and chairs being overturned, alleged scuffles and general chanting by disgruntled members.
Insiders says there’s discontent in ActionSA quarters that predates last year’s November municipal elections.
This is the second sign of unhappy party members in 3 months. Last year November,Soweto party members cited a jobs for pals’ scenario and petitioned party leader Herman Mashaba.
A source said: “The tension in ActionSA Tshwane started before the election, where positions were given, taken away and many have believed there is an element of jobs or positions for pals in the composition of the list.”
ActionSA Michael Beaumont said: “ActionSA has taken note of a meeting in Tshwane from which video footage has arisen showing a physical altercation between a small number of members of the meeting.”
He said an internal investigation has been launched.
“Information is already beginning to emerge which reveals that a handful of members came to a meeting with the intention of disrupting the meeting and destabilising our party structures in the region.
“It should be noted that the members involved in the altercation were a very small minority of the meeting.”
Beaumont said the party will ensure the matter is investigated and those involved are dealt with speedily and in a manner which is consistent with ActionSA’ s value of commitment to ethical leadership.
Meanwhile Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson Helen Zille says former party member Bongani Baloyi “will regret” his decision to join ActionSA.
Baloyi revealed in an interview with the Sunday Times his decision to terminate his DA membership – after 14 years with the party – was after the DA became “toxic” when Zille was elected federal council chair in 2019.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Zille said she saw the former Midvaal mayor in Johannesburg late last year, at his request, “to discuss his plans for his future DA career trajectory”.
She said the meeting was “amicable and pleasant”, suggesting that Baloyi never mentioned anything to her about the DA being “toxic”.
“I have never had one unpleasant interaction with Bongani. Quite the contrary. My prediction? I think he will regret his move,” Zille said in response to the story.