How Zille plans to work with Maimane after comeback
Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane have not always seen eye to eye, but if the DA is to rebound after a dismal showing in the 2019 national election they are going to have to — and fast.
Zille made a startling return to political power on Sunday, winning a key vote for the post of federal council chair.
It is a position that is second only to the DA leader post, which Maimane occupies.
After her election, Zille admitted that her relationship with Maimane had taken strain recently.
They were, however, ready to work together — as they did when Maimane took over the leadership from Zille in 2015.
“Mmusi and I have always had good relations,” she told a media conference.
“It’s always been cordial. “We’ve been through some strained times, but we’ve always been decent and professional.”
But with Zille reportedly being backed by a faction that wants Maimane gone sooner rather than later given the May 8 election performance, it could be touch and go between the current leader and his predecessor.
Though Zille has promised to work closely with Maimane, political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni says Maimane is a “dead man walking”.
“Zille’s victory on Sunday simply means that Mmusi’s future as party leader is now precarious,” he said.
“This means Maimane’s relationship with the DA, and by extension his relationship with party stalwarts such as Tony Leon and Ryan Coetzee, will be fraught with challenges.
“Going towards the party’s policy conference, Maimane will be fighting for his political life, and when they go to their elective congress, his political leadership might be over by then.
“He is basically a dead man walking.”
Zille, though, has vowed not to overstep the boundaries of her new job.
“I will stay in my lane,” she promised.
“This a job that co-ordinates the different structures, functions, systems and processes.
“My job is to ensure that all of those things run smoothly.
“I will not be the leader. I will play a background role. I will stay in my lane.
“I will participate where it’s appropriate for me to do so.
“I respect and support the leader and [the entire] leadership,” she said.
“People are worried that I won’t stay in my lane.
“The problem is many people have only seen me in a leadership position. But I have very often played behind-thescenes roles.”
Zille defeated former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip, and MPs Mike Waters and Thomas Walters in a hotly contested election on Sunday.
She replaces James Selfe, who announced in June that he would be stepping down.
DA federal council elections presiding officer Desire van der Walt declined to release the vote count, but said the margin between Trollip and Zille was narrow.
One MP quipped after the result that it was “the return of the mommy”.
Maimane said Zille would “bring new energy and vigour, and ultimately she will work with the leadership of the organisation”.
“The jobs in the DA are such that the leader provides the direction of the organisation, and the role of the federal council chair is one where she provides operational and structural leadership,” he said.
Party insiders have interpreted the former Western Cape premier’s return to the high echelons of the DA as a blow to Maimane, who has been under pressure to resign after the poor showing in the general election.
Zille’s election was not the only important outcome of the federal council meeting.
The council also resolved to hold an early national congress in 2020 to elect new leaders.
This was after it adopted a recommendation from a review panel report put together by former strategist Coetzee and former party leader Leon.
But their recommendation that Maimane should immediately step down was roundly rejected by the majority of the 155 delegates who attended the two-day meeting, held in Johannesburg.
Maimane said he would decide later whether he would make himself available for reelection.
Trollip tweeted: “Congratulations to Helen Zille on her election. Thanks to our federal council for dealing with a difficult weekend in a mature and committed way.
“We are a democratic organisation and democracy won again.
“Thanks to all who supported me in the campaign, SA needs the DA.”
● Meanwhile, Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba is expected to announce his resignation from both the DA and his job as the head of the municipality on Monday.
TimesLIVE understands that Mashaba told a number of Gauteng leaders on Saturday night that he would quit his job should Zille win.
About two hours after the announcement of Zille's victory, the City of Johannesburg issued a statement stating that Mashaba would be hosting a media conference on Monday morning.