CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 13: Helen Zille and Athol Trollip from the DA welcomes Nosimo Balindlela into the DA at a press conference on 13 November, 2012. Nosimo Balindlela has resigned her membership of the Congress of the People (Cope) and given up her seat in the National Assembly. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Edrea du Toit)
Prominent DA member leaves party to return to ANC
Former Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela has left the DA to return back home to the ANC. A blow for the DA?
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 13: Helen Zille and Athol Trollip from the DA welcomes Nosimo Balindlela into the DA at a press conference on 13 November, 2012. Nosimo Balindlela has resigned her membership of the Congress of the People (Cope) and given up her seat in the National Assembly. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Edrea du Toit)
Nosimo Balindlela is not necessarily a name that will be recognised by most DA voters. With a hugehistory in Politics, the DA has confirmed that Balindlela will be leaving the party. She’s heading back to the ANC.
Balindlela was an ANC member and served as Premier of the Eastern Cape until July 2008. By the end of that year, she had left the ruling party and joined COPE.
She eventually left COPE for the DA and was welcomed with open arms into the party by Helen Zille. Balindlela then served as a DA MP for many years, she also established the Balindlela Poverty Alleviation Foundation.
Through that vehicle, ten women recently graduated from a half year Computer Skills course and are underwent drivers licence training.
She has been quoted as praising the work the DA does regarding imparting skills to rural and poverty-stricken communities.
DA Eastern Cape leader Nqaba Bhanga has thanked Balindlela for her efforts in building an alternative government with the DA in the Eastern Cape.
“We respect that she feels the need to serve the ANC, but believe that this is misguided as ANC corruption and maladministration have robbed the poor of billions. We thank her for her participation in the DA’s efforts to build an alternative government in the Eastern Cape and for her kind words of how she has enjoyed her time with us.”
“We are determined to bring about the kind of change that this province needs – zero tolerance for corruption, good governance and job-creating economic growth.”
Balindlela also previously served as the DA’s Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation until November 2016. At the time of her resignation, she held the role of the DA’s Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
The former Premier is let to publically comment on her decision to switch parties for the third time.
