A Boitekong-based political party, Botho Community Movement (BCM) in Rustenburg has become the latest smaller political party to merge with ActionSA through its “growing Green Umbrella initiative” following Forum4Service Delivery and others across the country.This after BCM leader Ofentse Kombe signed a merge agreement with ActionSA which was represented by party leader, Herman Mashaba, in Rustenburg on Monday.
Mashaba told councillors and party members who attended the signing ceremony in Rustenburg that ActionSA’s Green Umbrella Initiative is a movement that is not just about growing the party, but about transforming South Africa for every citizen, in every community.“ActionSA, which is only four years old, now boasts a strong 26 councillors in this province, North West alone, represented in 13 municipalities. We also have 134 councillors, five members of provincial legislatures, and six members of parliament.These representatives are not just numbers, they’re passionate leaders and activists who share our values and our vision,” said a jubilant Mashaba.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Kombe said the decision to merge with ActionSA wasn’t easy. “It has been some time in a making because obviously it is not an easy decision to make, so it is one that requires some consultation, some thorough research and so on, but at the end of the day, we believe it is a correct decision.We will also actively pursue other like-minded parties, independent candidates and those that want to join the political fray for the right reasons and want to make a meaningful impact in changing this country of ours, especially now with the way things are going in the North West province,” said Kombe. He lamented that the high rate of unemployment in the province, despite hosting some of the biggest platinum mines in the world. “You sit with all the mines here, yet you are rated number one in high unemployment. It says to you that the leadership that we are currently having in this province doesn’t have a vision, does not have a plan to turn the situation of this province and its failing municipalities around,” Kombe explained.
He is adamant that a thorough consultation was done with the members regarding the merger, with some agreeing with the move. “You will never have everyone 100% happy, though it remains an individual decision of whether to continue.But those that we have consulted and those that we were with today, have accepted the decision and we moved with their blessing to get to where we are today,” remarked Kombe.He dismissed reports that he resigned as a councillor at the Rustenburg Local Municipality, following the announcement of joining ActionSA. “I am told some councillors were celebrating that I’m no longer part of the Rustenburg Local Municipal council.But that is for their own reasons because one demands accountability from the administration, so let’s make this vividly clear. Botho Community Movement has a seat in the municipality, BCM still exists as a political party and I therefore speak on behalf of BCM, I remain a representative of the party in the Rustenburg Local Municipality,” clarified Kombe.
