{"id":297012,"date":"2026-06-01T11:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/liam-jacobs-returns-to-da-after-brief-stint-with-gayton-mckenzies-patriotic-alliance\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T11:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:05:13","slug":"liam-jacobs-returns-to-da-after-brief-stint-with-gayton-mckenzies-patriotic-alliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/liam-jacobs-returns-to-da-after-brief-stint-with-gayton-mckenzies-patriotic-alliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Liam Jacobs returns to DA after brief stint with Gayton McKenzie\u2019s Patriotic Alliance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Liam Jacobs has rejoined the Democratic Alliance (DA) less than a year after leaving the party for Gayton McKenzie&#8217;s Patriotic Alliance (PA), he confirmed on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/liam.jacobs.716\/videos\/1743801823256127\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook Live broadcast<\/a> on Monday morning, Jacobs explained that his decision stemmed from a desire to ensure his political work reflected his personal principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When I look at my political career, I have to ask myself is the political career that I&#8217;m living in line with the values that I was raised with, is it in line with our constitution, is it in line with what it is that I&#8217;m currently doing,&#8221; he told viewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis was among the blue-clad party supporters who gathered to welcome the 25-year-old back with enthusiastic applause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During his months with the PA, Jacobs held multiple positions across different cities. The party deployed him as a mayoral hopeful in both Tshwane and later Cape Town, while simultaneously serving on the Johannesburg city council. He also took on leadership of the PA&#8217;s youth wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One planned appointment \u2013 to Johannesburg&#8217;s transport portfolio \u2013 fell through when Mayor Dada Morero questioned whether Jacobs had sufficient expertise for the role. The vacancy arose when Kenny Kunene stepped down from his position following controversy over his connection to a murder suspect&#8217;s arrest, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymaverick.co.za\/article\/2025-07-29-mckenzie-appoints-pas-liam-jacobs-to-replace-kunene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daily Maverick<\/a><\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liam Jacobs rejoined the Democratic Alliance (DA) less than a year after defecting to Gayton McKenzie&#8217;s Patriotic Alliance (PA), the councillor announced on 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content=\"Liam Jacobs rejoined the DA less than a year after defecting to Gayton McKenzie&#039;s PA, the councillor announced.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/liam-jacobs-returns-to-da-after-brief-stint-with-gayton-mckenzies-patriotic-alliance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mthatha Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-01T09:05:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Liam-Jacobs.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"501\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"608\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Amy L\u00e9-Semper\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta 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