‘Trollip is the reason I left DA’

SPILLING THE BEANS: FORMER EASTERN CAPE CHAIRPERSON ‘COULD NOT STAND IT ANY MORE’

Federal chairperson says he is baffled by Mvenya’s allegations against him.

Former Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape chairperson Veliswa Mvenya has cited the DA’s federal chairperson, Athol Trollip, who is also Nelson Mandela Bay’s mayor, as the reason why she had left the party.

Mvenya finally broke her silence on the reasons on the radio show Umhlobo Wenene yesterday morning.

She alleged that Trollip made “life a living hell”. It is a claim that Trollip denies.

Mvenya resigned from the DA as a party member and its member of Eastern Cape provincial legislature in May, after almost two decades with the party.

Her resignation came shortly after that of former provincial premier Nosimo Balindlela, who also resigned and rejoined the ANC.

At the time, Mvenya said she needed some rest, time to reflect and to decide on her next political move.

But during the radio show Mvenya said she was tired of fighting against Trollip.

“I am a free, independent thinker, but exercising my independent thinking at the DA became a problem and Trollip turned party members against me,” she said.

Mvenya accused Trollip of running a “one man show” in the DA.

She said: “When Julius [Malema] said the DA is one-man show, I laughed because there’s someone else who sees it.

“I was dubbed the ‘stupid woman’ in the provincial legislature and also branded the ‘gatekeeper’, because during my time as chairperson I questioned certain decisions.”

Mvenya said most people who were attacking her in the party were black and turned against her under Trollip’s influence.

She said even DA national leader Mmusi Maimane did not help her. “I went to Maimane’s office in Cape Town and reported everything, but he did not assist me.”

Meanwhile, Trollip said he did not know why Mvenya made such allegations.

“We used to work well together. I was elected as [Eastern Cape] provincial leader on six occasions and she was a friend and protégé. I don’t know where she lost the plot.”

Trollip said in Mvenya’s absence the DA had recorded massive growth at Ngquza Hill Municipality in the recent by-elections.

“No one is indispensable in politics; our DA brand is bigger than any one of us.” – ANA