Today, the DA welcomed Grandi Theunissen, former FF+ Caucus Leader in the City of Tshwane, and former Regional Chairperson for Tshwane for the FF+.
Attribute to Cilliers Brink:
“We welcome Grandi to our party. This is a massive decision to make, and a massive change for him and his family.
The DA continues to attract skilled, experienced South Africans who are committed to making our country work for all.
Importantly, Grandi does not come to the DA as a disgruntled individual. He was highly electable on the FF+ lists, and is a credible community leader, which the requisite skills and experience to add value in the municipality.
The DA sees this move as extremely significant for the ratepayers and residents of our City.
Our opponents in this election are those that break down institutions, deploy cadres, and attack the bedrock of good governance in our City. When we governed together in Tshwane, Grandi served as a Mayoral Committee Member and he proved himself to be entirely aligned, working against forces of corruption and capture.
This move bodes very well for the DA. As we grow in size, in support and in capacity we stand ready to govern the City of Tshwane again under a new government after the coming election.”
Attribute to Grandi Theunissen:
“Ek hoop om ‘n positiewe bydrae te maak tot die DA, en die sukses van ons metro.
Onder Cilliers Brink se leierskap het die Tshwane-metro begin vordering maak. Na die rampsoedige ingryping deur die Gautengse ANC-regering in 2020, het die stad se finansies geleidelik begin verbeter. Ons het saam moeilike maar noodsaaklike besluite deurgevoer.
Soos ek sê, om ‘n party waarvan ek sedert 1994 ‘n lid is te verlaat is ‘n moeilike besluit. As voorsitter van die VF-Plus se grootste streek het ek hard gewerk on die party uit te bou.
Ek was ook in ‘n hoogsverkiesbare posisie op die Tshwane-kandidatelys.
Maar in die tydperk 2023 tot 2024 het die VF-Plus in die Wes-Kaap gestem om verskeie DA-burgemeesters tot ‘n val te bring. Ek ek Cilliers Brink het mekaar belowe dat ons nie sou toelaat dat hierdie politiekery ons eie koalisie hier in die Tshwane-Metro in gedrang sou bring nie. Dit het ons band van vriendskap versterk, en gemaak dat ons baie van die aanslae teen ons koalisie kon oorleef.
Ek en Cilliers kon oor party-grense saamwerk, juis omdat ons dieselfde waardes en belange het. Van vandag af werk ons saam in dieselfde party.
My ingesteldheid is nou op die toekoms. Ons moet nou saamstaan om te wen.”