Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has finally commented on Liam Jacobs’ unexpected departure from the party.
The move comes less than a year after Jacobs left the Democratic Alliance (DA) to join the PA.
During a Facebook Live broadcast, the 25-year-old MP announced his return to what he called his “political home”.
Jacobs said disagreements over key principles influenced his decision.
Meanwhile, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis described Jacobs as “young” and said he had made a “mistake”.
McKenzie Says Jacobs Struggled to Connect
Speaking on Facebook Live shortly after the announcement, McKenzie shared his views on Jacobs’ exit.
The Sport, Arts and Culture Minister said he had anticipated the move.
According to McKenzie, Jacobs struggled to connect with ordinary supporters.
He suggested the young politician failed to build relationships with grassroots members.
He said, “The PA is not an upper-middle-class party. We are on the ground, we are the lowest LSM, people with no money vote for the PA. He [Liam Jacobs] cannot speak to them, and he’s never. We tried to move him around. He couldnt break through to our people.
Gayton McKenzie
“If Liam Jacobs wants a war with the PA, he should continue with what he’s doing. We will make social media very uncomfortable for him.” pic.twitter.com/jq95pMVo59
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) June 1, 2026
“We don’t mind if he leaves, we saw this coming”.
Although McKenzie praised Jacobs’ abilities, he questioned his ambitions.
He said Jacobs appeared focused on securing influence and senior positions.
He continued: “The problem with Liam is that I didnt put him next to me. Because I knew he wouldn’t last. They want to understand me, how I operate. I can’t have him close to me; he will hear and see things”
McKenzie also reacted to Jacobs’ social media post announcing his return to the DA.
He added: “If Liam wants war with the PA, he should continue with what he’s doing. We will make social media very uncomfortable for him. We don’t want to do that. We want to wish him well”.
Jacobs Explains His Decision
On Facebook, Jacobs outlined why he decided to leave the PA and rejoin the DA.
He shared: “I should NEVER have left the DA in the first place. I believed in the leader of the party. I believed the PA promises. I personally saw that I was misled by lies. I admit, I made a mistake.
Jacobs also apologised to DA leaders, saying they had believed in his potential.
He continued: “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.
“I reflected on who I was as a person and what I want to contribute to society. During this period of reflection, I realised that the DA is the party my values align with. It is the only party that has the track record and capability of uniting the country and actually working for its citizens.
“When Gayton McKenzie offered me a return to Parliament, my values could not allow me to return as a PA MP. I could not, in good conscience, serve the people of South Africa whilst being in the vehicle of the PA”.
Furthermore, Jacobs raised several concerns about the PA.
He criticised the party’s coalition with the ANC.
He also objected to instructions regarding Fadiel Adams and race-based loyalty.
In addition, he condemned what he described as a “violent” stance on illegal immigration.
He further argued that the party lacked proper governance structures.
As a result, Jacobs claimed the PA operated in a state of “anarchy”.
The post McKenzie Breaks Silence on Jacobs’ Return to the DA appeared first on iHarare News.
