Cape Town - Expelled Ses’khona People’s Right’s movement leader Loyiso Nkohla says his move to the DA will effect change in the August local elections.
Nkohla, who was previously vocal about his dissatisfaction with the DA , in a shock move recently joined the party he accused of “undermining the needs of the poor”.
Nkohla said the 500 Ses’khona members that joined the DA was “the tip of the ice berg”.
Since 2013, the movement had been known for a series of protests, which included the dumping of human waste on the steps of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature and Cape Town International Airport.
For the airport incident, Nkohla and eight others were found guilty of contravening the aviation act, with each handed a three-year suspended sentence.
He is now appealing this while his case of throwing human waste on the steps of the provincial legislature is still pending at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
Because of this, the DA said Nkohla could not yet become a member of the DA, but could endorse it.
With a political history dating back to high school days in Pedi, Nkohla said he had always had “a passion for people’s rights”.
When he completed his matric at Matomela High School in the Eastern Cape in 2001, he knew he was destined to join the ANC Youth League in the Western Cape, so he hopped on a bus to Cape Town in early 2002.
Nkohla immediately joined the youth league as well as the Youth Development Forum in KTC, Nyanga.
In 2013, his popularity increased shortly after the birth of Ses’khona, movement comprised of residents from various informal settlements around the city.
“Never were we at any point to affiliate with any political party, but it was also never our intention to work outside of the ANC.
“It was just coincidental that they happened to take Ses’khona in and embrace the movement, but we were never any form of right-wing to the ANC,” Nkohla said.
“The only reason it seemed that the DA was the enemy is because they are the ones running the city.
“The same treatment would have been endured by the ANC if they were running the city, it was never a personal attack on anyone.”
He said his move to the DA would bring lots of change in the city.
“I saw the city’s budget and can say confidently that I was impressed.
“The ANC lied to us and used us continuously and it is because of that reason that we decided to back a different horse.”
About Nkohla’s move, DA media manager Anneke Scheepers said: “Loyiso Nkohla and his structures are dedicated to supporting their community, hence they declined to accept the ANC’s offer of PR list positions.
“They chose the DA because they understand that the DA listens and delivers.”
Scheepers said the move was instrumental to the city and its people.
“It tightens the bonds between our communities and the service delivery to which they are entitled.
“This move empowers us to do more.”
Meanwhile, Nkohla’s poo flinging partner, Andile Lili. said Nkohla’s move to the DA was cowardly.
“I was shocked to learn about his move to the DA because it does not make sense to me that someone who had been fighting for people’s rights can now simply join the very party which is infringing on those rights.”
MEC for Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela said: “This move means the ANC is effectively dead in the city and the Western Cape, and the DA will win the 3rd of August elections with a landslide victory.”
Cape Argus