Former Free State DA leader Patricia Kopane has resigned from the party.
Kopane is in talks with Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA with the intent to join that party.
“The truth is that I no longer believe the DA is the political vehicle that I joined in 2003. I do not feel that I belong in the DA, that I have the space to make the political contributions to my country,” she said on Monday.
Kopane has been a DA member for 19 years, 13 of them as an MP.
You are speaking to a free woman today. It’s like I’m from prison
— Patricia Kopane, DA MP
While she expressed gratitude to the DA for giving her the opportunity to serve, she also claimed the party had changed.
According to Kopane, things became sour in 2020 after erstwhile leader Mmusi Maimane’s departure.
“You are speaking to a free woman today. It’s like I’m from prison,” she said during a short phone call with TimesLIVE.
“It was bad. After Mmusi left, things were really bad. What I’m trying to say is, it wasn’t going in the right direction. You realised, ‘here, this is no longer the movement that I thought I’m joining to do what is right’.
“But I’m grateful for the honour and privilege that was given to me to serve the people of SA. I leave without regrets and I leave with a clear conscience.
“They invested in me, those people. It is unfortunate that those who joined later wanted to change the organisation.”
Kopane said she will hold a press conference on August 31 to elaborate on this and talk about her future plans.
August 31 will also be her last day as an MP, she said.
Kopane became politically active in 2003 after working as a nurse for many years.
“My entry into politics was not to serve a political party. I entered politics after a lifetime of working in the healthcare industry, to serve the people of my country.
“Because of the problems of SA, I am still going to be around in politics. I do not feel my service to my country can end with the end of membership within the DA.
I have much to contribute in service to my country and cannot imagine walking away from politics while my country is in so much trouble
— Patricia Kopane, DA MP
“I have much to contribute in service to my country and cannot imagine walking away from politics while my country is in so much trouble.”
She said she would approach ActionSA in the coming days to become a member.
Kopane was DA leader in the Free State for two terms between 2012 and 2020. She was serving in the standing committee on the auditor-general. She previously served as the party’s shadow minister of health, social development and public works and infrastructure in the National Assembly.
DA leader in the Free State Roy Jankielsohn said the party had received and accepted Kopane’s resignation. “We thank Patricia for her service to the DA and the role she played in parliament,” he said.
Mashaba confirmed he had spoken to Kopane and discussed her interest to join his party.
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