Former Freedom Front Plus (FF+) Tshwane caucus leader Grandi Theunissen has joined the Democratic Alliance (DA), days after being removed from his leadership position following an internal party investigation.
Theunissen, who has been a member of the FF+ since 1994, resigned from the party on Monday and was formally welcomed into the DA on Tuesday at the party’s Gauteng North regional office in Muckleneuk.
His departure comes after the FF+ removed him as Tshwane caucus leader last week following an internal disciplinary process linked to a controversial property development.
The FF+ had publicly opposed the development, but Theunissen’s caucus voted in favour of it, triggering an internal investigation and ultimately his removal as caucus leader.
Theunissen said his decision to leave the party he had served for more than three decades was not one he took lightly.
He said he only wrote his resignation letter at 8am on Monday after taking time to ensure he was making the right decision.
“I was found guilty and at no stage was I allowed a fair opportunity to state my case. I had 15 minutes to answer a 13-page charge sheet against me.
“In fact, the manner in which internal matters are handled in FF+ is an ominous sign for how the party manages conditions,” he said.
Theunissen was welcomed into the DA by the party’s Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink, DA Gauteng provincial chair Fred Nel and other party members.
Brink described Theunissen’s decision as significant, saying the former FF+ leader brought political experience and credibility within Tshwane.
“We welcome Grandi to our party. This is a massive decision to make, and a massive change for him and his family,” he said.
“The DA continues to attract skilled, experienced South Africans who are committed to making our country work for all.”
Brink said Grandi did not come to the DA as a disgruntled individual but 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,” he said.
“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.”
Theunissen said his move to the DA was driven by his desire to continue contributing to Tshwane and build on the work he had previously done with Brink.
He said he hoped to make a positive contribution to the DA and to the success of the metro.
“Under Cilliers Brink’s leadership, the Tshwane Metro began making progress. Following the disastrous intervention by the Gauteng ANC government in 2020, the city’s finances gradually began to improve. Together, we made difficult but necessary decisions,” Theunissen said.
“As I said, leaving a party that I have been a member of since 1994 is a difficult decision. As chairperson of the FF Plus’s largest region, I worked hard to build the party.I was also in a highly electable position on the Tshwane candidate list.”
“But between 2023 and 2024, the FF Plus in the Western Cape voted to bring down several DA mayors. Cilliers Brink and I promised each other that we would not allow this political manoeuvring to jeopardise our own coalition here in the Tshwane Metro. This strengthened our bond of friendship and enabled us to survive many of the attacks against our coalition.
Theunissen said he and Brink were able to work together across party lines precisely because they shared the same values and interests.
“From today, we will be working together in the same party. My focus is now on the future. We must stand together now to win.”
Theunissen’s move comes as political parties prepare for the upcoming local government elections, with Tshwane expected to be one of the key battlegrounds.
His departure is particularly notable given his long service in the FF+, his position as chairperson of the party’s largest region and his previously strong position on its Tshwane candidate list.