Ramphele’s image takes a big knock:

THERE is a very big difference between Dr Mamphela Ramphele joining the DA and being named its presidential candidate versus her being in partnership with the DA and being named its presidential candidate, while still firmly tethered to Agang SA.

So how this fundamental difference could not have been ironed out before the DA triumphantly declared the former managing director of the World Bank as its presidential candidate for the upcoming general election is anyone’s guess.

Perhaps Helen Zille and company got so excited about their supposed “gamechanger” that such technicalities were hastily glossed over in order to seal the deal for the merger.

Whatever the reason, Zille and Ramphele have both been left with egg on their faces following the DA’s announcement last night that “the good doctor” had reneged on the agreement and would no longer be its candidate.

What a mind-boggling week for politics it has been, starting last weekend when Agang first vehemently denied it was hooking up with the DA, only for Zille and Ramphele to do the “big reveal” on Tuesday.

This, much to the consternation of Agang staffers who were apparently only told the news an hour before the press conference that saw Zille and Ramphele bounding into each others’ arms and sealing their union with a kiss.

But cracks in the DA-Agang “marriage” began to show almost immediately and it is now clear this relationship was little more than a summer fling that has well and truly fizzled out.

The DA really should have known better, given its failed negotiations with Agang a year and a half ago.

And, while both parties will surely be damaged by their quickie divorce, it is Zille who will live to fight another day.

Ramphele, on the other hand, has shown herself to be an egotistical, over-confident amateur who attempted to sell out her own party, only to do some embarrassing backtracking afterwards.

She will practically have to walk on water to reclaim her credibility if she is to have a political future of any kind – that is if she still has the stomach for it.