ETHEKWINI, KWAZULU-NATAL — A major political shift is set to unfold in eThekwini as ActionSA prepares to announce a series of high-profile defections from rival organizations. The highly anticipated reveal, which includes a sitting ward councillor crossing the floor, is expected to significantly alter the competitive dynamics ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The strategic gathering is being hosted at the Jordan Full Gospel Church in Red Hill, located in the northern sector of the eThekwini municipality. As party members and supporters gradually fill the venue, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba is slated to spearhead the proceedings and address the media regarding the influx of new leadership.
Joining Mashaba at the forefront of the event is Dereleen James, the party’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town, who is also participating in the day’s program to help outline the party’s forward momentum.
Party leadership has maintained strict secrecy regarding the specific identities of the defecting politicians, keeping the names close to the chest until the official unveiling. However, the confirmed arrival of a current ward councillor has generated significant buzz among attendees. The central question on the ground revolves around which specific ward the defecting councillor represents and how their switch will influence voter turnout and the final electoral outcomes in that district.
This wave of eThekwini defections is expected to be the first of many as political realignments accelerate across Durban and the broader KwaZulu-Natal province leading up to the November polls. ActionSA is looking to build upon its historical performance in the region to expand its territorial footprint. During the 2021 local government elections, the party successfully captured four wards within the city and secured an additional five seats along the north coast of the province. Today’s revelations will provide a clear roadmap of their strategy to dominate the upcoming electoral cycle.