‘I don’t need a title to be a leader’
In 1998, John joined the DA as a volunteer and rose through the ranks.
The world of South African politics was set alight on Wednesday, 2 September as another high-ranking member of the Democratic Alliance (DA) stepped down.
John Moodey, who was the Provincial Leader of the opposition party, resigned saying that he could no longer align himself with the party with which he spent the past 22 years.
His resignation and the reasons given have been highly publicised, but despite what some people may say, this Florida resident says that he has only ever had the best interest of his community at heart.
In 1997, after the tragic and untimely death of his daughter and wife, John moved from Eldorado Park to Florida where his life took a turn he had never expected. He had always been highly community-orientated, and that did not change when he moved to Roodepoort. He became actively involved in the community almost immediately, joining Community Policing Forums (CPFs), taking part in community projects and fundraising initiatives, and recruiting police reservists.
John said that initially he did not envision himself in politics and has always seen himself as more of an activist than a politician, but when the opportunity arose to join the DA (the then DP), he found himself accepting because he knew he needed the party in order to contribute the way he wanted to within his community.
In 1998, John joined the DA as a volunteer and rose through the ranks. His community spirit and empathetic (but effective) approach to dealing with issues his neighbours faced soon saw him being elected as the Ward 70 councillor, which is a position that he is still remembered for today.
John continued to rise in the DA ranks until becoming the party’s first black provincial leader in 2012. He tried as often as he could to stay involved with community clean-ups and improvement initiatives but, as he climbed within the party, it became more and more difficult for him to be personally involved in his area.
Now that he is no longer a high-ranking member of the DA, he has promised that Roodepoort will have a more hands-on John Moodey. He hopes to become heavily involved with CPFs and ward committees again, and will use his resignation as an opportunity to get more in touch with his neighbours. “I want to get my hands dirty again. Florida is my home and I don’t need a title to be a leader,” he said.
John remarried 14 years ago and plans to spend a lot more time with his family, especially his two grandchildren. He started with this plan almost immediately, spending his first free weekend fishing at the Vaal with those he loves most.
John said he would be taking a short sabbatical before making any big decisions about his professional future, adding that he has several options to look into.
While he is open to joining another party in the future, his main priority right now is his family. “My dedication to the DA often came at the expense of my family, so before making any decisions I want to consult with my family and make sure I have their support. Without family, you are poor,” John concluded.
