The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape has revealed Thamsanqa Balindlela as the party's "confidential" councillor candidate for the DA Amahlati Local Municipality constituency.
The revelation comes just a week after the DA revealed ex-ANC and COPE member Mlindi Nhanha, as the party's Makana Municipality councillor candidate.
DA provincial leader Athol Trollip said he is one of a number of former COPE public representatives who have joined the DA in the Eastern Cape including Nosimo Balindlela MP, Nqaba Bhanga MP and Councillor Rano Kyser.
Balindlela was one of COPE's few councillors that represented the party in the Amahlati Municipality council.
Under COPE; Cllr Balindlela served as an IEC representative, an MPLC member, treasurer in sub-regions, and as a deputy secretary within the regional structures of COPE.
Trollip said: "Cllr Balindlela has been perceived as a threat by the ruling party due to his continued fights of transparency relating to budget reports and financial expenditure in the Council MPAC committee. We hope Cllr Balindlela will continue with his efforts of ensuring an honest government and ensure the council is responsive to the needs of the community."
DispatchLive understands that Balindlela resigned on Thursday last week. In his resignation letter dated May 26 seen by DispatchLive, Balindlela writes that he is resigning to take up a new post.
"I wish you all and your movement all the best and look forward to staying in touch with you. I wish you, your team and the Congress of the People nothing but success for the future," Balindlela wrote.
Last week the Saturday Dispatch reported that 10 COPE councillors from across three Eastern Cape municipalities were recently booted out.
Of the 10 councillors affected councillors four are believed to be based at Mnquma, four Mbhashe and two Amahlati.
DA names its councillor for Amahlati municipality
The revelation comes just a week after the DA revealed ex-ANC and COPE member Mlindi Nhanha, as the party's Makana Municipality councillor candidate.
DA provincial leader Athol Trollip said he is one of a number of former COPE public representatives who have joined the DA in the Eastern Cape including Nosimo Balindlela MP, Nqaba Bhanga MP and Councillor Rano Kyser.
Balindlela was one of COPE's few councillors that represented the party in the Amahlati Municipality council.
Under COPE; Cllr Balindlela served as an IEC representative, an MPLC member, treasurer in sub-regions, and as a deputy secretary within the regional structures of COPE.
Trollip said: "Cllr Balindlela has been perceived as a threat by the ruling party due to his continued fights of transparency relating to budget reports and financial expenditure in the Council MPAC committee. We hope Cllr Balindlela will continue with his efforts of ensuring an honest government and ensure the council is responsive to the needs of the community."
DispatchLive understands that Balindlela resigned on Thursday last week. In his resignation letter dated May 26 seen by DispatchLive, Balindlela writes that he is resigning to take up a new post.
"I wish you all and your movement all the best and look forward to staying in touch with you. I wish you, your team and the Congress of the People nothing but success for the future," Balindlela wrote.
Last week the Saturday Dispatch reported that 10 COPE councillors from across three Eastern Cape municipalities were recently booted out.
Of the 10 councillors affected councillors four are believed to be based at Mnquma, four Mbhashe and two Amahlati.
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