MMUSI MAIMANE SHOULD START TO PACK HIS BAGS
OVER THE past few weeks, Mmusi Maimane has been facing attacks from some senior members within the DA.
It’s without a doubt that some within the DA want Maimane out as president, as they blame him for the DA’s poor 2019 elections results.
Helen Zille’s return to the leadership is a signal that Maimane’s second term as the leader could be coming to an end.
Zille, known as the Iron lady of South African politics, needs no further introduction.
She’s always maintained her stance against race-based politics and has repeatedly emphasised that the DA should review its policies that redress the legacy of apartheid such as BEE.
However, Maimane disagrees with Zille’s view. In February, he came out guns blazing, when some members of the federal council attempted to reintroduce the debate on BEE and the federal council sat to mull over the party’s manifesto.
Maimane and Zille have not seen eye-to-eye ever since Zille’s colonialism comments, which lead to Maimane admitting, last year, that it was a big mistake to keep Zille in the decisionmaking structures of the DA after she stepped down as party leader.
During Sunday’s press conference, Zille emphasised that as chairperson of the federal executive, she would have no say on party matters.
She stated that her role was to guide the mandate during party meetings. Her responsibilities will also include the day-to-day running of the party and preparations for both the policy conference which will be held later this year, and the early federal congress which will be held next year.
Maimane and Zille have not seen eye-to-eye since Zille’s colonialism comments
However, it is indisputable that Zille still has major influence within the DA.
Her supporters will most likely challenge those who are supporting Maimane’s policies, such as BEE, at the party’s policy conference.
Should Zille’s supporters be successful in changing the party’s policies that they’re unhappy with, it could result in a change in dynamics for Maimane.
A win for Zille’s backers at the party’s policy conference could give them an upper hand in the party’s early elective congress.
Unfortunately, I don’t see Maimane surviving the strong resistance that he’s faced with from some senior members in the DA.
Speculation is rife that a report of the organisational review panel, which was commissioned to investigate the party’s dismal performance in this year’s elections, has among many recommendations recommended that Maimane should step down.
However, Maimane has reiterated that the DA’s constitution doesn’t have a recall clause and leaders can only be removed at congress, which is held every three years.
The resignation of Herman Mashaba as the Johannesburg mayor, after the election of Zille as the federal chairperson, is a clear sign that there is a major problem within the DA, which could cost the party the 2021 elections.