Photo: GOOD / Twitter
Photo: GOOD / Twitter
Jacques Meiring, who scored 91% of the vote during the 2016 Municipal Elections in Benoni. has officially quit the DA this weekend. In a double-blow to the Blues, the politician has joined forces with GOOD – a minority party formed by the opposition’s bitter rival and former representative, Patricia de Lille.
Jacques Meiring dumps DA for GOOD
Meiring made his first turnout for GOOD on Sunday, appearing at a press conference to confirm his change of allegiances. According to the outgoing councillor, he was left feeling ’embarrassed’ by the DA’s treatment of coloured people.
“Jacques Meiring has represented Ward 27 in Benoni since 2016. He was supported by 91% of voters. He has resigned from his position and party on principle to join GOOD. In short, he felt embarrassed that the DA fooled people of colour into believing the DA cares about them.”
“Meiring is a dynamic young leader who cares about all residents living in Ward 27, and is a very significant acquisition for GOOD. Other councillors with whom we’ve spoken feel a little more trapped by their circumstances. It’s not an easy time to risk giving up a precious job, and they don’t want members of their communities to become collateral damage.”
GOOD statement
Benoni Ward Councillor Jacques Meiring quits the DA to join GOOD. Read full statement by @ShaunAugust1 here: https://t.co/hlKGtVJb8a pic.twitter.com/uHilOUmcpF
— Good (@ForGoodZA) September 27, 2020
DA accuses defecting member of ‘financial mismanagement’
However, the DA has prepared a similar line of attack to one we’ve seen recently. Earlier this month, their Gauteng leader John Moodey quit the party in sensational fashion, accusing the organisation of ‘wanting to create a new version of apartheid’. He was then accused of ‘running away from serious charges’ by his former colleagues – and that is exactly what the DA is now saying about Meiring and his defection.
“We note that Jacques Meiring participated in a GOOD Party press conference yesterday where he announced his new political home. In this respect, he has automatically terminated his membership. On our part, we are of the view that the GOOD Party has made a bad decision on accepting him.”
“Meiring, in moving to the GOOD party, is running away from facing very serious charges relating to financial mismanagement instituted by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC). It must be mentioned that he had been suspended from Caucus as well as party duties, due to the severity of the disciplinary investigation.”
Solly Msimanga
