PIC: SUPPLIED
Former Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader and ex-Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nqaba Bhanga has rejoined the African National Congress.
He was introduced to the public as an ANC member on Thursday after concluding the relevant paperwork at the party's regional headquarters in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The DA expelled Bhanga in December 2023 in response to a social media post in which he criticised federal council chairperson Helen Zille accusing her of being "the most racist person," among other things.
The matter was also referred to the party’s Federal Legal Commission for investigation.
Bhanga said he was committed in rebuilding the ANC in the region.
“There needs to be work done in Nelson Mandela [Bay]," he said during a media briefing on Thursday.
"I want to work with activists to try and rebuild Nelson Mandela [Bay] with the renewal programme of the ANC. Former president [Thabo] Mbeki and other progressive individuals have been saying, ‘let’s fix this and let’s fix the movement through a renewal project and make sure that the challenges that the ANC is facing we are contributing in fixing it'."
Nqaba was one of three former ANC members who were welcomed back into the fold.
"The leadership of the ANC, including the leadership of the region, welcomes these members back to the ANC who are leaders in their own right, especially within the Nelson Mandela Bay Region," the party said in a statement.
"Welcome back comrades, from now henceforth you shall enjoy the rights and responsibilities of an ANC member. That means that we expect to see you on the campaign trail from the moment we finish this [media] conference."
