‘I'll die an ANC member’ — Mzwandile Masina laughs off claims he tried to join ActionSA

Former Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina has dismissed rumours he tried leaving the ANC for Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA but was turned down. 

A tweet recently doing the rounds claimed Masina’s application to join the party “was refused”.

Masina said the rumour is “propaganda” and he will always remain a member of the ruling party.

“This is rubbish. I’ll die an ANC member. This is pure propaganda. How would I join a non-politician?” he tweeted.

Speaking to TimesLIVE, Masina claimed the rumours were started by someone out to "tarnish" his name.

"I'm a member of the ANC. I've never joined nor seek to join any party, including Action SA. It's some naughty people who are trying to tarnish my name.

"I'm sure even Action can tell you they have no application with my signature in it".

ActionSA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni said the rumours were not true.

“It’s fake news. There is nothing of that sort,” she said.

Prominent politicians, including Bongani Baloyi, Funzela Ngobeni and Abel Tau, have left the DA for ActionSA in recent months.

ActionSA contested six municipalities in last year’s local government elections, garnering 2.33% of the national votes and 90 council seats. The ANC’s national vote dipped below 50% for the first time. 

ActionSA voted with the DA to help dethrone the ANC in the Ekurhuleni municipality, where Masina lost his bid to return as mayor to the DA’s Tania Campbell by 116 votes to 102.