DA welcomes ANC stalwart's son to party

Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance on Sunday announced that Lindela Tshwete, the son of ANC apartheid activist Steve Tshwete, had joined the party.

"Welcome to… Mr Lindela Tshwete! He joins as a member and aspirant candidate for Cape Town City Council," the party tweeted.

The eldest son of the late Tshwete told the Sunday Times newspaper that while he was "born in the ANC" he had turned to the DA as he supported its policies.

"For example, if you look at Mmusi Maimane's speech [on racism] this week, he talks on the land issue. Even on the economy, he was quoting from the Freedom Charter," the 57-year-old Tshwete was quoted as saying in the weekly publication. 

"So change can happen."

His father served as both sports minister and safety and security minister for the ANC-led government until his death in 2002.

Meanwhile, reaction on social media to his switched loyalties was mixed. While user 'Funzi' offered a "warm welcome indeed… We need as many hands as possible on the wheels", 'Ms Cain' suggested the move was a "stunt... It’s a low blow".

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.