Maimane pours cold water on ‘Zille’s puppet’ claim

THE DA’s Mmusi Maimane will run the party’s new parliamentary caucus in close cooperation with national leader Helen Zille if he wins the internal election on Thursday.

Maimane, who accepted nomination this week to stand for election as the DA’s new parliamentary leader, said there was no reason Zille should not be involved in the management of the caucus.

“She’s not an opponent. We are fighting the same cause . . . and why would you want to silence her voice, as someone who’s had a much longer political career?

“You must be able to consult her, hear from her, hear what she thinks,” he said.

“Helen, by virtue of being leader of the party, also has a say in caucus.

“She’s a voice we can’t ignore. We’ll have difficulties, we’ll have disagreements, but I think we can contest for ideas.”

Maimane’s comments come as a war of words rages in the party about Zille’s role in the caucus.

She has been accused of undermining former parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko and campaigning to oust her in favour of Maimane, a charge she has vehemently denied.

Mazibuko, who had a fallingout with Zille after some policy disagreements, abruptly resigned as a parliamentary leader shortly after the elections to study in the US.

At the DA federal council meeting last week, Zille claimed that Mazibuko had built a “Berlin Wall” between them and would have lost to Maimane in the upcoming election.

It has fuelled speculation that black leaders in the DA are anointed by Zille and she expects them to take orders from her.

Asked whether he was not worried that he would be seen as Zille’s latest preferred black leader, Maimane said the rise of black leaders in the DA would always be criticised because of the country’s racial history.

“The rising of black South Africans in the DA, whichever way it happens, will always be met with some suspicions.”

He said he had told his detractors that he was intelligent enough not to be anybody’s puppet.

“I said to them look, I have two master’s degrees. I could have a career elsewhere and be successful. I don’t see this as a secondary option; I see this as an opportunity to serve my people.

“People find this totally bizarre. They think this is a way of fronting.

“If there was another South African more suited to the role, they must contest. We’ll take them on.”

Maimane insisted he was unaware that Zille was lobbying for him.

Interestingly, he was nominated by Zille’s former chief of staff, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

He cited Nelson Mandela when asked about his inexperience in parliament.

“When Nelson Mandela stood for president — not that I am saying [I am equal to him] — did he have experience in running the government?

“This fifth parliament will have many dynamics to it. There are many other leaders who will lead political parties who have no experience in parliament.

“So I don’t simply believe that we must narrow this conversation to a conversation about experience.

“I think it’s about building a collective, a team that will take us forward.”