RANKS SWELLED: New members are welcomed to the UDM by mayoral candidate Mongameli Bobani yesterday. Picture: YOLISWA SOBUWA
The UDM yesterday welcomed former DA councillor Xolisile Klaas to its ranks.
The announcement, made at Thanduxolo Comprehensive Secondary School in Uitenhage, was touted as a meeting that would celebrate 500 other defectors from the DA, ANC and COPE in Ward 45.
But when The Herald arrived at the designated time, only about 100 UDM members could be seen.
UDM mayoral candidate Mongameli Bobani said the new members had been there earlier and many had already left.
Klaas, 62, said he joined the UDM because it had honest leaders.
“UDM has never been involved in scandals or fraudulent activities. I trust that under the leadership of Bobani we will take over the metro after the local elections on August 3,” Klaas said.
“I served the DA for 19 years and . . . I was a loyal member.
“This is what I am also bringing to the UDM, a loyal member who is willing to serve the people.”
Former COPE member Phumla Khohliwe, 53, also said she had joined the UDM because its councillors had never been involved in scandals. “I want to work with the party to better the lives of people in the rural areas,” she said.
Bobani said the UDM welcomed Klaas and about 500 others to “the winning party” yesterday.
He said the party would also welcome about 1 000 members from wards 53, 54, 55 and 57 in Motherwell on Saturday.
Nelson Mandela Bay ANC regional spokesman Gift Ngqondi said the UDM was parading people around who had never belonged to the ANC.
He also said the ANC would win Ward 30 back from the UDM.
COPE regional chairman Khwezi Ntshanyana said he had not been informed of any party members going over to the UDM.
DA Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate Athol Trollip said he was aware of Klaas’s defection but did not know of any others.
The post UDM welcomes DA defector Klaas, others appeared first on HeraldLIVE.