Patricia de Lille’s Independent Democrats (ID) party announced on Monday that Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Mervyn Cirota had resigned from the official opposition to join the ID.
In a statement the ID said Cirota ”up until today was a senior public representative of the DA in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council.
”Prior to his resignation he was the ward councillor for Ward 74, part of the greater Houghton area, the heartland of DA support in Johannesburg, and the previous constituency of [DA leader] Tony Leon.
”He has held various positions within the DA, including member of the federal council and vice-chair of Gauteng south candidates’ committee”.
Cirota said in a statement that the DA had created the perception that its policies were ”separate and contrary to the ideals of the majority of South Africans”.
”The ID in my opinion has the potential to become the main opposition party in SA as its principles, particularly that of a balanced and fair approach to the needs of all South Africans, will attract more and more support from disgruntled members of both the ANC and the DA.”
A municipal by-election will be forced in Houghton where Cirota was a councillor. – I-Net Bridge