Former City of Johannesburg speaker and ActionSA councillor Nobuhle Mthembu says she dumped the party to focus on her non-governmental organisation (NGO), Assertive Woman and Girls, and not another political party.

Mthembu resigned from ActionSA and as its proportional representation councillor on Friday nearly two months after being voted out as speaker and replaced with Margaret Arnolds. She said after careful consideration she realised that the party’s internal dynamics and decision-making processes no longer aligned with her values and the interests of the constituency she represents.

“I firmly believe that organisations must foster open discussions, transparency and democracy. Despite our efforts to address these concerns, meaningful change has not been forthcoming,” Mthembu said.

She added that she had now taken a decision in the best interest of both her and the constituency she represents to part ways with ActionSA, marking the end of her association with the party.

Following her resignation, Mthembu addressed rumours linking her to former EFF deputy president and expelled uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu’s Mayibuye Consultation Party.

“I left ActionSA yesterday (Friday). I didn’t leave it to join any political party but rather because of internal dynamics. I will be returning to work with communities through my NGO, Assertive Woman and Girls,” she explained.

According to Mthembu, should she decide to join a political party to enhance her work as a servant leader, she will make it public.

“However, at this current point in time, I have not been approached by Mayibuye nor have I agreed to join the party. That is false news,” she insisted.

ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzela Ngobeni confirmed Mthembu’s departure, acknowledged her contribution and wished her well for the future.

ActionSA is among the political parties that have faced criticism over their failure to hold conferences to elect leaders.

However, Ngobeni said after last year’s national and provincial elections ActionSA undertook a comprehensive review of the organisation.

“One of the key outcomes was a mandate to rebuild our membership and branch structures from the ground up. In line with our constitution, the convening of the people’s convention is contingent on meeting the prescribed threshold of launched branches,” he said.

Ngobeni said ActionSA was working actively towards this constitutional requirement with new branches being almost daily across the country, which is progress the party is immensely proud of.

Additionally, according to Ngobeni, ActionSA’s holding of people’s convention was currently with its highest decision-making body, the senate, which will communicate its resolutions with internal structures and then publicly.

“Right now, we are in an intensive phase of nationwide branch launches – including several here in Gauteng – and we do this every week in communities across the country. This expansion forms the foundation for robust, participatory democratic processes at every level of our movement,” he explained.

Ngobeni said ActionSA’s focus remains firmly on building a patriotic movement to serve all South Africans.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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