The invite was to the Nangoza Jebe hall in New Brighton sent out by the DA to announce their new member.
I am pleased to say that I am no stranger to the Nangoza Jebe Hall nor to areas deeper in the townships that are probably only visited by policemen and medical personnel. It has been a while, though, since I had to enter the townships in the middle of the night under a blanket in the boot of a car ………
Walking from outside towards the entrance to the hall I was followed by a fellow South African mumbling in Xhosa about the lily white, mhlope DA and how they need to get out of the township – words I am sure meant for my ears (I am African but some call me white!).
As I said to one of the Ward Councillors after the announcement that ex-COPE MP, Nqaba Bhanga has joined the Democratic Alliance; “The direction that the DA is taking should have been done years ago it is time to embrace all voices and show those denied benefits for years that a plan is in place to ensure that the disadvantaged are treated with respect.”
As you will see in the video at the bottom, the lilly white gevaar averred to by my fellow South African certainly took a battering today as the meeting certainly was representative of our nation.
Personally I think that all politicians have an uneasy job as whatever they do is wrong and no matter what they say their very livelihoods depend upon staying ‘relevant’ and in the public eye. As with everything else sometimes it is better to stay with the devil you know. Some people say though that continuing to vote for the same party year after year is a bit like; “…turkeys voting for Christmas!”
Bhanga is a well-known political activist and leader who is respected across all communities in Nelson Mandela Bay. He was formerly a leader in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the Deputy Chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Nelson Mandela Bay, the National General Secretary of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and the national Youth President of COPE.
Bhanga will lead the DA’s activities in the newly-created Ngqura Constituency with a dedicated team of hundreds of activists who are in place and committed to bringing change to Nelson Mandela Bay. The Ngqura Constituency will include Motherwell, New Brighton, Kwazakhele, KwaMagxaki, KwaNoxolo, Zwide, and Blue Water Bay.
Nqaba Bhanga, who is a candidate for Parliament for the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape, said that he joined the DA of his own volition and wasn’t enticed.
Eastern Cape Party Leader, Athol Trollip said; “Thousands of people all across the country are making the same transition as the DA continues to grow in all communities. We are slowly building a new majority. People from all walks of life and all political parties are joining the DA. They are joining the DA, because there is a growing recognition that we can stop corruption, create jobs and restore Madiba’s vision of economic opportunity for all.”
Alan Straton
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