DA MP Mike Waters bows out of Parliament after 21 years

The Democratic Alliance’s Mike Waters has resigned as a member of Parliament and has thanked his party and residents of Kempton Park and Edenvale in Gauteng for supporting his long political career.

Waters said he served as a local councillor for more than four years before going to Parliament in 1999, where he was an MP for 21 years, including as deputy chief whip.

“I have had so many wonderful opportunities that I am immensely grateful for. I want to thank the DP/DA for all the opportunities afforded to me (opportunities a working-class lad can only dream of).

“I would also want to thank the voters of Kempton Park and Edenvale for their unwavering support and always having my back. Being an MP has been the greatest honour of my life,” Waters posted on his Facebook page.

He reportedly resigned on Friday but would remain a DA member in Gauteng.

Among his many roles in the DA, Waters served in portfolios such as home affairs, public service and administration, HIV/AIDS, social development and health.

ALSO READ: Waters believes his ‘non-racial, classical liberal’ agenda gaining traction for top DA job

DA MPs bid farewell to Waters on Twitter, praising his work ethic.

“He was a remarkable MP who served the DA and South Africa since 1999. He fought many issues that affected the country, from the HIV denialism crisis to ensuring a sex offenders register was established. It’s hard to find an opposition MP who achieved as much,” DA MP Dean Macpherson wrote.

“Mike Waters was a truly conscientious MP, did the groundwork, an indefatigable campaigner and won the first-ever by-election in a NP stronghold in 1997 – an example worth emulating,” former party leader Tony Leon said.

DA spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube was not immediately available for comment. The party’s comment on Waters’ resignation will be added once received.

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