Maimane ‘will confuse voters’ by focusing on premier position

DA LEADER Mmusi Maimane will confuse voters if he chooses to become the Western Cape’s candidate for premier instead of focusing on the national campaign to bring the ANC below 50%, says political analyst Daniel Silke.

The Sunday Times reported that Maimane had nominated himself to lead the Western Cape government after next year’s election.

Maimane’s spokesperson, Portia Adams, said Maimane had not yet taken a final decision on whether or not to replace Premier Helen Zille should the DA retain the province.

“If Maimane was to be seen putting his effort behind the Western Cape, it would take his attention away from the national campaign and it would also confuse voters,” said Silke.

Maimane had been reportedly hoping to work with other major opposition parties to bring ANC votes below 50% during the approaching elections.

Silke said the opposition parties stood a good chance of toppling the ruling party, which “is under severe pressure from its internal power struggle”.

He said Maimane’s move to the Western Cape could be interpreted as an admission that the opposition parties were unable to form a coalition for the national government.

“Maimane might be realising that his party would be unable to win the country, and he is making sure that it does not lose the Western Cape,” he said.

Adams told Independent Media that Maimane was still deliberating the issue of the Western Cape premiership.

“He is busy with extensive discussions within party structures, and the federal executive will deliberate on the issue.” Adams said that the party’s selection panel met at the weekend to deliberate on people on the list of premier candidates.

“It is a rigorous selection that is happening, and it is a process,” she said.

Western Cape DA leader Bonginkosi Madikizela, who is apparently eyeing the premier’s position, said Maimane was allowed by the party’s constitution to make himself available for this position.

“However, given the fact that our focus is on a bigger national project to get the ANC below 50%, it makes sense to me that we have our leader running as a presidential candidate.”

Another political analyst, Somadoda Fikeni, said Maimane might have chosen the Western Cape because the province was “an easy pick for the DA”, instead of leaving the position to Madikizela, who is the provincial leader.