Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
10 August 2024 | 10:53 CAT

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Xiluva party leader Bongani Baloyi says he does not regret rejecting EFF leader Julius Malema’s offer to join the red berets last year.

Baloyi was a member of the DA and mayor of the Midvaal Municipality before joining ActionSA, and after leaving, he formed his party.

Malema said he invited Baloyi to join his party and believed that if he had accepted his offer, he would have been an MP.

Baloyi left ActionSA in 2023 to form Xiluva and forge his political path. Leading up to the May 29 elections, he stated he was not afraid of failure, as many believed he would fail. “That’s the risk when you pursue your vision unashamedly and put it out there for people to follow you. It demonstrates the courage of your convictions,” he said.

“The risk of failure doesn’t paralyse me. If I fail, I do so publicly, and I move on. I am brave enough to try again; I am not held back by fear. I believe this is something bigger than me, and I really need to try to get it done,” Baloyi says.

Though the Xiluva party did not perform well at the polls, receiving only 0.02% of the votes, and the EFF received 9.52% and 39 parliamentary seats, Baloyi remained resolute in his decision. “An offer was made for me to join the party after I left ActionSA, and I declined and cointinued to pursue Xiluva.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Muallimah Annisa Esscak and Bongani Baloyi here.