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Mpho Phalatse Breaks Silence on ActionSA Claims: ‘I’m Still With the DA’
Rumours have been swirling in Johannesburg’s political corridors about Dr Mpho Phalatse, the former mayor who made history in 2021. Social media threads and political whispers have painted her as the next high-profile figure to jump ship to ActionSA, but Phalatse says the speculation is completely off the mark.
Speaking exclusively to IOL on Friday, Phalatse firmly shut down the chatter, saying she remains a member of the Democratic Alliance and has no plans to defect.
‘If I ever switch parties, I won’t do it in the shadows’
“There’s no reason for me to hide it,” she told the publication. “If I join another party, I will make it known. I will have to participate publicly either way.”
Phalatse confirmed that while she’s currently taken a step back from active politics, she has no intention of quietly crossing the floor. For now, her focus is elsewhere, and any claims that she’s preparing for a new political chapter under ActionSA are, in her words, “false and unfounded.”
Her clear stance comes after weeks of speculation, much of it fuelled by social media claims that she was aligning herself with ActionSA ahead of the 2026 local elections. According to Phalatse, these narratives are being peddled to stir unnecessary political chaos.
Not running for mayor in 2026
Despite calls from some quarters within the DA’s base for her return to the mayoral race, Phalatse confirmed she will not be standing as a mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the upcoming 2026 municipal elections.
“I am far from politics, but I will make a comeback,” she said, hinting that her withdrawal is temporary, not permanent. What that comeback will look like remains to be seen, but it will not involve a mayoral campaign in Johannesburg.
This echoes her earlier comments to IOL, where she made it clear: “I am not considering making the move.”
A historic yet turbulent tenure
Phalatse first rose to national prominence when she became the first woman to hold the mayoral office in Johannesburg in November 2021. Her tenure, however, was cut short in early 2023 after a motion of no confidence, backed by the ANC and EFF, succeeded in unseating her.
Though her time in office was brief, she remained one of the DA’s most recognisable figures in Gauteng. Her removal was viewed by many as political maneuvering rather than a reflection of her performance.
Why her voice still matters
In South African politics, figures like Phalatse tend to carry symbolic weight. She broke glass ceilings in the country’s largest metro and represented a younger, reform-minded generation in the DA. That’s likely why rumours about her switching parties have generated so much buzz and why she felt the need to speak up and put them to rest.
Her statement reaffirms not only her political loyalty but also her continued relevance in the DA, even from the sidelines. While she may be out of the immediate spotlight, her next move will be closely watched.
Also read: De Lille Under Fire After Dissolving SA Tourism Board: Power Move or Political Misstep?
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
