ActionSA councillor Mandla Nyaqela has defected to the Democratic Alliance, bringing more than 50 members from Soweto branches. He described his former party as a 'cult' under undemocratic leadership. The move was announced alongside DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille in Dobsonville.
On 26 February, ActionSA proportional representation councillor Mandla Nyaqela announced his defection to the Democratic Alliance (DA) during a press conference in Dobsonville, Soweto. Nyaqela, representing Ward 48 in Johannesburg, was joined by four other branch leaders and more than 50 members from five Soweto branches: Dobsonville, Zondi, Jabulani, Mofolo, and Braamfischerville. The group, initially wearing ActionSA green T-shirts, switched to DA blue shirts on stage.
Nyaqela stated he resigned from ActionSA that morning after three months of negotiations, citing the party's undemocratic leadership under president Herman Mashaba. He called ActionSA a 'cult' and a 'one-man dictatorship show' where no one else has a say. 'ActionSA is selling hope to the people of this country... It is a powermongering organisation that is hoping for your votes to reach their own selfish political gains,' Nyaqela said.
He praised the DA as a 'progressive' party with democratic processes that promote internal leadership. Nyaqela claimed he and the defecting leaders built ActionSA's support base in Soweto, with over 20,000 voters backing him, and anticipated their followers would shift to the DA ahead of the November local government elections.
Helen Zille, DA Federal Council chairperson and Johannesburg mayoral candidate, welcomed the group, describing their move as 'courageous.' 'We love every South African, we love Joburg, and we want the city to work for all the people,' Zille said. She added that the DA aims to govern Johannesburg with an outright majority to avoid unstable coalitions.
ActionSA responded by welcoming Nyaqela's resignation, labeling him 'underperforming' and thanking the DA for sparing a disciplinary process. Spokesperson Cannedy Netshitungulu noted it provided an opportunity to introduce a new committed activist. Nyaqela dismissed this as a 'lie' and a 'counterattack,' insisting no disciplinary action was underway.
Nyaqela has a history with ActionSA: he launched a branch with over 100 members in 2021, expressed prior discontent after the elections, left, and rejoined in October 2024 with 70 community activists. He accused the party of sidelining activists in favor of those closer to Mashaba. 'ActionSA did not grow from trees. We are the ones who grew ActionSA, and we are the ones who will collapse it,' he said.
ActionSA has not confirmed a replacement councillor for Nyaqela's seat.
