By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Democratic Alliance (DA) Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi has joined ActionSA.
The party announced, “its big reveal” at a media briefing in Sandton on Monday morning.
Baloyi, who served two terms as mayor, quit the DA last month, saying that he would give details of his future plans in the new year.
There was much speculation regarding his next move after what could be considered a good run as the mayor of the Midvaal Local Municipality in Gauteng. The municipality was ranked as one of the best performing municipalities in the country.
Baloyi was largely credited for its rise when he was elected mayor in 2013 at the age of 26.
He was one of the youngest elected mayors in the country when he was appointed.
Announcing Baloyi’s move to ActionSA, national chairperson Michael Beaumont used Baloyi’s track record as mayor to describe his career move.
Baloyi said joining ActionSA did not mean that he was having a bitter spat with his former political home.
“My joining ActionSA is not out of anger, but actually because of hope that lies ahead of me. I believe this is a realignment of our politics. We have one enemy, and that is the African National Congress,” he said.
He added that he was proud of his record as a DA member and his work at the Midvaal municipality.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said Baloyi would join the party as a member of its senate – ActionSA’s highest decision-making structure.
Mashaba described Baloyi as a “great South African” and an excellent leader, saying his party was immensely proud to have him among its ranks.
He said after last year’s local government elections in November, a number of South Africans had expressed interest in joining ActionSA, with the party’s membership base doubling within days.