Photo by [The Citizen]
Former ActionSA Provincial Chairperson Bongani Baloyi resigned on March 13, following a relationship breakdown between himself and party leader Herman Mashaba. He left a year after departing as the DA mayor in Midvaal, where he enjoyed relative success.
In his interview with Salaamedia, Baloyi said Mashaba had not explained exactly what happened. He was not allowed to address the issues or defend himself.
“I did ask, what have I done because you’ve [Mashaba] never given me an opportunity, a fair process, to do something about it. To speak, to engage or to defend myself. That was never afforded to me … So, I’m still none the wiser about what brought us to that stage.”
However, ActionSA spokesperson Micheal Beaumont stated the relationship began to deteriorate when Boloyi’s interests did not align with the party’s. There were differences of opinion regarding the running of the province.
In addition, the ANC proposed a coalition which saw Baloyi potentially becoming the mayor of Tshwane. However, after ActionSA conducted a public poll, the results were unanimous, stating that under no circumstances should the party be involved in a coalition with the ANC. Subsequently, Mashaba killed the proposal.
Beaumont said, “There was a proposal by the ANC that ActionSA would be given support to govern Tshwane … Particularly that proposal related to Bongani Baloyi himself being the mayor of Tshwane. What emerged was that he was very invested in that idea.”
Why Did He Resign?
Before his resignation, Baloyi had a meeting with Mashaba, and he informed him their relationship was deteriorating, and so was their trust. The lack of trust led to the decision to remove Baloyi as the Gauteng Chairperson and make him the party’s national spokesperson.
Baloyi said he was baffled at the decision. On the one hand, there is a lack of trust between them, and on the other, Mashaba wanted him to assume a role of faith, where they would be working closely together.
“I don’t believe it’s a demotion, necessarily. I believe that when you say to somebody, I don’t trust you, the relationship between us has deteriorated. When it comes from the leader, it means that, for me, my time around that leader has finished. So, I can’t accept any other thing because you don’t trust me.”
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ActionSA Response
Beaumont said, Baloyi is an exceptional and talented individual. Regarding Monday’s press briefing, they had witnessed a completely different person from what they had experienced at the party.
According to Beaumont, what they saw in the press conference is part of what led to the breakdown in their relationship. He added, Baloyi presented himself as the “saviour” of the party. Everything good from the party was because of himself, and everything bad was because of others.
“Bongani appears to be an individual playing a team sport. Because politics is a team sport. There’s a lot of people who are responsible for what is good and what needs to be fixed in ActionSA. No single person should take the credit in that particular regard.”
Even though their relationship soured, Beaumont added, they have no animosity or ill will towards Baloyi. They acknowledge the work he has done for the party, and they thank him for his service. However, at the end of the day, they require leaders aligned with the party’s agendas and interests.
