Grahamstown businessman, Mlindi Nhanha, has been announced as the DA's councillor candidate for the 2016 local government election.
The former COPE MP was introduced to the media on Tuesday.
Nhanha said that he had cut his political teeth in the anti-apartheid struggle, serving in student as well as civic organisations before moving to the ANC Youth League and the ANC itself.
However, he said it was clear to him at the ANC's Polokwane conference that the party had lost its way.
"I am, today, more confident that I was right when I consider the state of the ANC, and our country, under the leadership of Jacob Zuma. I subsequently joined many of my colleagues in forming the Congress of the People (COPE) as an alternative to the corrupt ANC," he said.
"Through COPE I had the privilege of serving the people of South Africa as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly (2009-2014). Mid- way through my term as an MP; the Democratic Alliance and I, initiated discussions with the view to join the DA. I already knew then, that the DA was our country's only hope of stemming the rising tide of unemployment, stopping rampant corruption, and delivering the services our communities deserve."
"My political journey has been long and diverse but has remained consistently rooted in the values of freedom, fairness and opportunity espoused by the DA today. South Africa was making progress under the ANC but that progress has stalled."
"Our country's institutions have become corrupt and the ANC is doing nothing to stop the corruption or create jobs for the millions of poor unemployed people of South Africa. My home, Makana Municipality, has become a victim of the ANC's neglect for far too long and I will not stand by while they continue to ignore the plight of our poorest residents and undermine the future of my children," Nhanha said.
DA provincial leader, Athol Trollip, said the announcement of Nhanha as the party's Makana councillor candidate was another step in the realignment of politics in South Africa.He said the realignment of politics in South Africa began under former DA leader, Tony Leon, continued under Helen Zille and was accelerated under the leadership of Mmusi Maimane.
"This acceleration has been assisted by Jacob Zuma's presidency. We have seen that it has prompted a greater realignment of South African politics than anyone would ever have anticipated. We've seen voters and public leadership figures leaving the ANC and coming to the DA. Some have done that by joining other politiical parties first but ultimately ending up in the Democratic Alliance," he said.
