Racism, classism and elitism are reasons why two KZN ActionSA members decided to call it quits

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency(ANA)

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency(ANA)

Published Aug 9, 2022

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Durban — The eThekwini regional chairperson of ActionSA, Busisiwe Ntshingila, and uThukela regional chairperson Mdumiseni Mlangeni have resigned with immediate effect from ActionSA.

In their letters of resignation the leaders tabled their reasons for leaving the party.

Both leaders said that in the past six months they have questioned themselves if they still needed to be in the political party or not.

Mlangeni said that after much reflection, he realised that ActionSA is not what it presents itself to be.

He said on numerous occasions he tried in earnest to caution their senate members and KZN provincial elective conference members about their lack of empathy, consideration and understanding to the ordinary man on the ground.

“Though I am a farmer and belong to the 1% of privileged South Africans, I am not blind to the plight of those who are less fortunate than I am,” Mlangeni said.

“This is what propelled me to join ActionSA. I also joined because as a mixed-race individual I have never been coloured enough or black enough for all the multiple organisations. I thought that ActionSA with its non-racial values would be home. However, I have been greeted with racism, classism and elitism,” Mlangeni said.

There is no value unless you enjoy close proximity to president Mashaba or you are white or of Indian origin, he said. Ordinary people are not valued yet they built the organisation with their own resources.

Ntshingila said ActionSA is no different from the ANC and said that over the past six months she has been battling with a decision whether to leave or stay in the party.

She said she believed that ActionSA was the alternative for the people of this country but she has discovered that it is not what it presents itself to be and the party cannot fix South Africa.

“We talk a good game but we don’t walk the talk and I cannot continue to be part of this charade. Though I have been battling with this decision for a long time, the interview on the Morning Shot by Byron Shepherd on August 4, 2022, was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

“ActionSA is a far cry from what this country needs at face value. They seem like they have potential but it seems that just like the ANC there are handlers and agendas that are well hidden and ultimately they will serve self interest and not the needs of the people who actually voted for them,” she said.

Daily News