DA Eastern Cape leader, Nqaba Bhanga says his decision to bow out contesting for party leadership was influenced by trauma he suffered following a horrific accident in 2021.
“The accident was influential in my decision. It’s a trauma that I’m still going through counselling for and that’s why I want time to myself. I’ve not fully recovered,” he said.
Bhanga was involved in a horrific accident that left two people dead..
Bhanga announced on Friday that he would not be seeking a third term at the party’s upcoming provincial conference next month.
However, he will remain DA leader in the provincial legislature.
He said he’d served in the position for two terms and achieved stable government, transformed the provincial caucus in the legislature and also won three municipalities.
Bhanga added that he had also introduced difficult topics such as race relations in the DA.
“I want to thank Athol Trollip for his guidance and leadership and the confidence he had in me for years in the DA and Andrew Whitfield for his counsel and support as my right-hand man.
“I will continue serving as the leader of the official opposition in the Eastern Cape legislature. This is not the end of my political activism but the beginning of new opportunities and challenges,” he said.
Bhanga, who was first elected in May 2017 after beating his predecessor, chair Veliswa Mvenya, has had a tough second term at the helm of the DA in the province.
Following the 2021 local government elections the party suffered losses at the polls, which made way for parties such as FF+ to gain a seat in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, where Bhanga was head of the coalition government for just under a year.
The DA and ANC were tied for the same number of seats at 48 in the 120-seat council chamber.
“I’ll continue with my role as a political activist. I’ll still participate in advising and counselling but will spend more time in building myself and my brand as a person. It’s time for my family and to serve myself. It’s a difficult decision."
Bhanga becomes the fifth high-profile provincial DA leader recently to decide not to stand for another term after Zwakele Mncwango in KwaZulu-Natal, Andrew Louw in the Northern Cape, Patricia Kopane in the Free State and Joe McGluwa in North West.
All but McGluwa have since joined Herman Mashaba’s Action SA. Bhanga’s mentor, Athol Trollip, is Action SA’s Eastern Cape leader.
On joining another party, Bhanga said he’ll continue being a member of the DA, adding that “God will guide my future steps”.
Bhanga’s withdrawal from the leadership race makes way for his second in charge in the province, Whitfield to take over the reigns of provincial leader.
Whitfield said his decision to contest was based on his deep seated belief that the people of the Eastern Cape were the best the country had to offer and deserved a better government.
nkosin@sowetan.co.za
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