Overview
- Liam Jacobs announced on Facebook Live that he had left the Patriotic Alliance and rejoined the Democratic Alliance after concluding his 2025 defection was a mistake.
- The DA officially welcomed Jacobs back and said his return shows the party can attract talent and broaden its appeal as it prepares for the November local government elections.
- Jacobs accused the PA of centralised decision making, cadre deployment, defending controversial figures and cooperating with the ANC, claims that PA leader Gayton McKenzie has publicly rejected.
- McKenzie responded by saying the PA never trusted Jacobs and warned him to stop attacking the party, while many PA supporters posted hostile comments accusing Jacobs of being a 'double agent'.
- The DA has indicated Jacobs will take a non‑representative role for now as an activist or consultant, a step that observers say highlights intensified recruitment and volatility among smaller opposition parties ahead of the vote.