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Former Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela has resigned from Cope and parliament to join the Democratic Alliance.
Balindlela was premier of the country's second poorest province between 2004 and 2008 before being recalled the ANC and replaced currenty premier Noxolo Kiviet.
In a statement today, DA leader Helen Zille, said she has "known Nosimo for many years as a person of integrity."
Zille says "there are many, many South Africans like her who are frustrated by the divisions of the present" adding that "many of us understand that our future lies in transcending these obsolete political formations."
However, she says it takes a courageous person to be among the first to show the way to others.
Zille says the "DA is glad that Balindlela has joined our effort to remake South African politics and build a shared future."
"Today is another step in the realignment of politics in South Africa. Good people from across the spectrum are starting to converge around a vision and a plan for our country," she said.
Balindlela, a teacher by profession, first got involved in the struggle against apartheid on the campus of the University of Fort Hare.
She was a prominent UDF activist in the 1980s, and in 1994 was elected to the Eastern Cape Legislature where she was appointed MEC for Education, Sports and Culture.
She served on the provincial executive committee of the ANC from 1996 to 2008, the provincial working committee from 2004 to 2008, and was the provincial chairperson of the ANC Women's League from 1996 to 2001.
