Long-serving Democratic Alliance (DA) politician Mike Ellis has resigned as leader of the party in KwaZulu-Natal.
He told Sapa on Wednesday he found it ”difficult to work with certain people”.
Ellis, however, said he had every intention of continuing as a member of Parliament and deputy chief whip in the National Assembly.
He has served as the DA’s leader in KwaZulu-Natal for the past 20 years.
”There are good times and bad times. I have found it difficult to work with certain people.
”It is in the best interests of my own personal situation and the best interests of the party that I resign [as DA leader in the province].
”It’s an untenable situation I find myself in. I have decided, after 20 years, to step aside,” Ellis said.
He offered no further comment on his resignation.
Asked if he had any intention of resigning from the party at national level, he replied: ”Not at all.”
Ellis has served as DA deputy chief whip since the 1999 election. He has been with the party for 22 years.
According to media reports on Wednesday, there are alleged ”bad relations” between Ellis and the party’s provincial chairperson, Greg Krumbock.
The DA’s provincial media officer, Terry Kass, confirmed on Wednesday that deputy KwaZulu-Natal leader, Sizwe Mchunu, would now act as party head in the province until a congress was convened to elect a new leader. — Sapa