A 25-year-old politician who dramatically left the Democratic Alliance less than a year ago has returned to the party, issuing a public apology and admitting he was “misled by lies” during his brief stint with the Patriotic Alliance.

Liam Jacobs, who announced his return to the DA yesterday, 1 June, said his departure in June 2025 was “disgraceful” and that he should never have left the party that invested in his political development.

“I believed Gayton. I believed the PA promises. I personally saw that I was misled by lies. I admit, I made a mistake,” Jacobs wrote in a lengthy statement explaining his decision.

The Northern Cape activist was seated in the National Assembly at just 23 years old after the DA developed him politically in Gauteng. During his time with the PA, he held multiple positions including serving as a member of the Johannesburg city council, leading the PA’s youth wing, and being deployed as a mayoral candidate in both Tshwane and Cape Town.

Jacobs issued an apology to DA voters, leadership, public representatives, activists and staff for the harm caused by his departure and subsequent social media statements.

“I wholeheartedly apologise to DA voters, leadership, public reps, activists and staff for causing harm to the party, leaving in such a distasteful manner and for the lack of gratitude I showed towards the DA,” he said.

The young politician outlined five specific reasons for leaving the PA, painting a damning picture of the party’s internal operations and political positioning.

He accused the PA of being an “uncritical supporter” of the ANC, saying the party has “sold out its voters” and refuses to hold the governing party accountable for corruption.

Jacobs also took issue with being instructed to defend PA member Fadiel Adams, saying the party falsely claimed Adams was arrested because he was coloured. “Criminal culture is not coloured culture,” he wrote, adding that the PA’s approach was contrary to the DA’s non-racialism principles.

On immigration, Jacobs said whilst he supports securing South Africa’s borders and implementing the rule of law, the PA’s rhetoric is “violent” and could incite further violence.

He further criticised the PA’s governance structures, saying decisions are made by one man with no democracy, elected structures or accountability. “The PA operates in a space of anarchy. It disciplines via Facebook lives and social media,” he said.

Jacobs also raised concerns about what he described as cadre deployment within the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture under PA minister Gayton McKenzie, noting “a worrying trend of appointments” with PA-aligned figures showing up as board members and performers at events.

Despite being offered a return to Parliament by McKenzie, Jacobs said his values would not allow him to serve as a PA MP. Instead, he is rejoining the DA as an activist rather than a public representative.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed Jacobs back at a public gathering, with blue-clad supporters greeting the returning politician with enthusiastic applause.

Jacobs said his time away helped him realise that the DA “is the only party that has the track record and capability of uniting the country and actually working for its citizens.”

He pointed to the DA’s recent by-election victory in a township ward in Emfuleni as evidence that the party delivers results rather than “slogans en lekker tye.”

“I return to the party not as a public rep, but as an activist, with my conscience intact, committed to working hard every day to stop anyone else from making the same mistake,” Jacobs said.

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