Liam Jacobs, who has rejoined the DA, has apologised to the party and its supporters.

• Liam Jacobs has apologised for his “distasteful” departure from the DA and actions that harmed the party.
• Jacobs criticised his now former party, the PA, for cadre deployment, lack of merit, and alignment with ANC-style politics.
• He rejected a return to Parliament via the PA on grounds of principle and pledged to rebuild trust within the DA as an activist.

Party hopper Liam Jacobs says he should have never left the DA in the first place, and that he was misled by lies.

Jacobs, who announced his return to the DA on Monday after a year with Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance (PA), issued a statement on Tuesday in which he “wholeheartedly” apologised to DA voters, leadership, public reps, activists and staff for causing harm to the party. He especially apologised for “leaving in such a distasteful manner” and for the lack of gratitude he showed towards the DA.

“I do not expect forgiveness immediately. I understand that trust must be earned again, and I am committed to rebuilding it through my actions,” he said.

His statement, in which he was speaking in his capacity as an ordinary member, was sent through the DA’s official communication channels.

He said:

“In June 2025, I left the DA in a manner that disrespected the organisation that went to great lengths to invest in my development.

“I followed it up with statements on social media that caused great harm to the very people who extended their trust and support to me. My departure was disgraceful,” he said.

Jacobs added that, despite this, he was deeply aware of what the DA had done for him.

He left the DA in June 2025. He had, however, joined politics through the ANC years earlier.

WATCH | DA’s Liam Jacobs quits, joins PA after late-night jol with Gayton McKenzie

In addition to his apology, Jacobs has also blown the whistle on the inner workings of the PA and what he described as cadre deployment in the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture.

“As the months rolled on during my time at the PA, I saw behind the curtain. I witnessed the culture, the people and the focus of a party that explicitly contravenes my values,” Jacobs said.

He said he had personally observed a worrying trend of appointments within the PA-led department.

“It is worrisome to see so many PA-aligned figures or members show up as board members, performers at events, and linked to events under the Mzansi Golden Economy [banner]. What happened to merit?

“This is a continuation of Zuma-era politics that defined South Africa’s worst years. I refuse to play a part in the capture of our institutions. The PA strives to be what the ANC is: a buddy-buddy system,” he said.

He said McKenzie recently offered him a return to Parliament; however, his values prevented him from accepting.

“I could not, in good conscience, serve the people of South Africa while being in the vehicle of the PA,” he said.

He criticised the PA for being “an uncritical supporter and cheerleader” of the ANC, having no governance structures, and being xenophobic and violent.

“I thought the PA was the answer, but I realised it was not. I return to the [DA] 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.

On Monday evening, McKenzie took to Facebook Live to address Jacobs’ departure from the PA. He said earlier in the year, Jacobs had expressed “deep unhappiness” and concern that PA leaders did not like him.

McKenzie also cautioned Jacobs to refrain from speaking about the PA, or the party and its supporters would make social media uncomfortable for him.