Durban — Zwakele Mncwango has resigned from the Democratic Alliance following his resignation as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
On Saturday, DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers alerted the media that the party received a letter from Mncwango resigning from the party.
Rodgers said Mncwango’s resignation from the party came three days after his resignation as a member of the KZN legislature and made a public commitment that he was still a member of the DA.
I have resigned from KZN Legislature and didn't say anything about resigning from the @Our_DA
— Zwakele Mncwango (@Zwakelem) October 5, 2022
“We now understand that he will take up the position of ActionSA chairperson in KZN before the end of October, which was his plan since he announced his first resignation earlier this week,” Rodgers said.
“The DA believes that Zwakele has been planning his departure to ActionSA for the last month. Therefore, we feel he needs to come clean with the public and his new party as to why he saw it fit to enjoy the perks of his office in the legislature, at the pleasure of the DA, while planning his departure to his new political party.”
“These perks included an overseas trip in the last month to Norway and Uganda which cost taxpayers roughly R150 000. Surely if he had such misgivings about the DA, he should have resigned from the party before he enjoyed this costly trip,” Rodgers continued.
Rodgers said that Mncwango would attempt to use the “cease and desist” letter he received on Friday from the federal executive, after he made a number of allegations against the party without ever raising them in a formal structure of the party. He said this cannot go unchallenged and is a ‘fig leaf’ for his real reason to leave the DA, which is to join ActionSA.
“Whatever spin that he may try and put on his departure, it is important that the public know the truth behind his resignation,” Rodgers added.
On Wednesday, Rodgers alerted the media to Mncwango’s resignation as a member of the KZN legislature.
Rodgers said: “The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal acknowledges and accepts the resignation of Zwakele Mncwango as a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
“We welcome his decision to remain a member of the Democratic Alliance.
“The DA in KZN would like to thank Zwakele for his enormous contribution to the party as both the DA caucus leader in eThekwini and the provincial leader of the party in the province.”
Rodgers said he and Mncwango had a meeting before his official resignation at which he gave his reasons for stepping down as DA chief whip and member of the legislature.
I had a lot of disagreement with @Our_DA KZN chairperson @DeanMacpherson but always worked well together and respected each other. Wishing him and @francoisrodgers well. Both have worked hard in uniting the party at provincial level.
— Zwakele Mncwango (@Zwakelem) October 5, 2022
In an interview with the Daily News on Wednesday, Mncwango said he was taking some time to step back and reflect on his career.
Mncwango said he wanted to re-energise and be able to make decisions about his career.
“I need to do an introspection to see if I want to remain in politics or go to corporate. I need to be outside the legislature and think carefully about my next move,” he said.
Mncwango said there was a time when he could not defend his party in the legislature because of the decisions that it took.
“There comes a time when you have to step back when you feel like you are unable to represent your party. There were decisions that were taken by the party that I did not agree with, hence I was unable to defend the party in the legislature,” he said.
He said he would talk about the decisions taken by the DA that he was unable to defend at the legislature, in due course.
Daily News