Cape Town - The Western Cape ANC’s numbers swelled on Monday when 16 members of the DA defected to the ruling party.
The Democratic Alliance leaders in the West Coast’s Matzikama region promised to bring over scores more of their former colleagues.
The 16 former constituency officers swopped their bright blue DA T-shirts for the yellow of the ANC as they embraced a “brighter future”.
At a press conference at the ANC offices in the city, William Nutt apologised for the suffering he helped bring to farm workers in the Boland under the DA banner.
He said he too believed the “lies the DA spewed”.
Nutt said: “There is no growth for the coloured or black poor person in the DA.
“I believed them and want to apologise for allowing myself to be misled by the DA and then in so doing obliviously contributing to the process in which our communities and farm workers were also misled.
“We have done research and found that our people will receive recognition with the ANC. That is why we are here.”
Berty Jones said the DA has taken farm workers for fools.
He said: “They arrange talent shows, dancing and singing. They know nothing of what we need. They know nothing of the coloured culture.”
Nutt added that no acknowledgement is given to the coloured culture.
“But we are good enough to do the dirty work of the DA.”
A pleased Western Cape ANC chairman Marius Fransman welcomed his party’s newest members.
“We are looking at improving the lives of all our people and we are sick and tired of the DA,” Fransman said.
“There are serious service delivery issues and the DA is responsible for victimising poor people. The mayor has declared war on the townships.
“If Patricia de Lille can’t live up to her responsibilities to the province, she needs to step aside. [Premier Helen] Zille again is too quiet about all the ills going on. She needs to step out of her closet.”
DA Western Cape spokesperson Liza Albrecht said the party respected the decision of its members, but that some were leaving the DA under a cloud.
“William Nutt is a staffer who is currently undergoing a disciplinary process in the DA and we believe that, as in the past, this is the reason for his defection.
“However, we respect any individual’s right to join the political party of his or her choice.”
Daily Voice
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