Democratic Alliance (DA) member Patricia Kopane on Monday announced her resignation from the party – shortly before joining ActionSA. Kopane is the latest in a string of black leaders to have left the DA for ActionSA. Kopane was the DA’s Free State leader between 2012 and 2020 and also a member of parliament (MP). After…
Democratic Alliance (DA) member Patricia Kopane on Monday announced her resignation from the party – shortly before joining ActionSA.
Kopane is the latest in a string of black leaders to have left the DA for ActionSA.
Kopane was the DA’s Free State leader between 2012 and 2020 and also a member of parliament (MP).
After 19 years with the party, Kopane said she no longer felt like she belongs in the DA anymore.
“The truth is that I no longer believe that the DA is the political vehicle that I joined in 2003. I do not feel that I belong in the DA or that I have space to make political contributions in my country.
“I harbour no ill-will to the DA and wish nothing but the best to the many good people who remain within the party,” Kopane said in a statement.
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DA accepts Kopane’s resignation
DA Free State leader Roy Jankielsohn confirmed that the party had received and accepted the resignation of Kopane.
“We thank Patricia for her service to the DA and the role that she played in Parliament,” said Jankielsohn.
Kopane announced that she is in discussions with ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba about what position she will take in the former Johannesburg mayor’s party.
“I will approach ActionSA in the coming days to become a member of this exciting new party.
In doing so I will begin talks with Herman Mashaba to assess what role I can play to serve South Africans through ActionSA,” she said.
Mashaba said he has already reached out to Kopane following her resignation.
“Since Kopane’s resignation this morning, I have called her personally and signed her as a member of the party and will set up a meeting with her, to explore the open declaration and interest in joining ActionSA and forming a mutual relationship for the benefit of the people of South Africa,” he said.
Black members who left the DA.
