By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
Former DA federal chairperson and Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip has officially joined ActionSA, becoming the latest high-profile DA member to join Herman Mashaba’s party.
The announcement was made a short while ago during a press conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Gqeberha.
ActionSA president Mashaba and national chairperson Michael Beaumont travelled to the Eastern Cape to welcome Trollip to the party.
Mashaba said Trollip’s membership forms part of a critical component of ActionSA’s development and the deepening of its leadership pool.
Two weeks ago, the party revealed former DA Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi as a new addition.
Trollip’s membership was the worst kept secret as social media was abuzz after ActionSA announced that it would reveal its latest high-profile member on Wednesday.
He left the opposition party in 2019 shortly after leader Mmusi Maimane resigned.
Athol was born and raised here in the Eastern Cape. His family has deep roots with liberal politics in South Africa dating back to the United Party and equally deep roots in farming. Athol’s political career dates back to 1980 in the PFP.
In his considerable career Athol has:
- served as a Councillor in the Amathole District Council
- a Leader of the Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature;
- the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly;
- Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape;
- National Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance; and
- the Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay
Athol’s involvement in politics and agriculture has made him a well-known figure throughout the Eastern Cape able to converse fluently with its residents in isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans.