City mayor rocks DA boat by marrying ActionSA member

THE WEDDING between City of Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse and a municipal official in the office of the mayoral committee member for public safety, David Tembe, has allegedly sparked controversy within the DA.

The Star understands that Phalatse had invited a majority of ActionSA members to the wedding, but had not invited some of her DA colleagues.

Sources in the DA said some DA leaders only learnt of the wedding on social media, and saw it as a betrayal. “Some in the DA caucus cannot wait for her to go because it is clear she will soon cross the floor to ActionSA.”

The wedding invitation said the first leg of the wedding was in Diepkloof, Soweto, where the groom comes from, with the second part yesterday at the home where Phalatse grew up in Pretoria. The Star understands that the wedding could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, with some in the DA upset over a plan to reshuffle the mayoral committee to make way for a finance MMC from ActionSA.

Some DA members were further infuriated that the groom, Brutus Malada, launched ActionSA structures in Limpopo. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said Malada told him about the wedding. He said that he saw nothing wrong with the wedding and wished the couple well. “We have no right to interfere with the union of two adults. For me, I wish them well.”

In spite of her romantic ties, Phalatse has not expressed any desire to join ActionSA, according to Mashaba.

DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said Phalatse told her she would be having a wedding in March. “I don’t want to interfere in people’s private lives.“

The Star understands the DA’s Joburg caucus has summoned the mayor to a meeting today to confront her. Phalatse has refused to comment.