Dan Plato, a former mayor of Cape Town, has left the DA.
He said the party was no longer a ‘welcoming space’.
He was joining the People’s Movement for Change (PMC), which was formed by a former leader of the ANC in the Western Cape, Marius Fransman.
News24 quoted Plato as saying: ‘The DA has moved away from its commitment to serving the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. The party seems to be stifling voices that do not align with a certain cabal, and critical outreach programmes designed to benefit the poor are being cancelled in the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government. The DA’s evolving priorities and policies no longer resonate with the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. Beyond specific issues, my departure underscores a broader disconnect, indicating the party is no longer a welcoming space for those who seek genuine representation from a political entity.’
In reaction to Plato’s announcement the DA thanked him for his service and wished him the best for his future endeavours.