Maimane ready to occupy DA hot seat

TIDES High today . . .12.22pm, midnight Tomorrow . . . .12.38am, 1.14pm Low today . . . . .6.14am, 6.32pm Tomorrow . . . . .7.06am, 7.22pm Spring tides . . . . . . . . . . .May 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 13 Neap Tides . . . . . . . . . . . .June 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .June 19 SUN/MOON Sunrise today . . . . . . . . .7.37am Sunset today . . . . . . . . .5.48pm Moon rises today . . . . . .3.07am Moon sets tomorrow . . . .3.02am MMUSI Maimane, so far the only contender for the position of DA parliamentary leader controversially vacated by Lindiwe Mazibuko, says he is “loathe to fight” as he prepares to take the helm of a divided caucus.

Those with factional agendas or determined to see him fail should “work with it and see what they achieve”, Maimane said yesterday after declaring his intention to stand for the position. “We’ve got a job to do and those who have agendas must understand what they need to do about those, if that’s what they want to pursue. But I must be honest, we’ll certainly contest.”

Maimane, said to be favoured by party leader Helen Zille to take the job, said he would however be trying to heal the rifts opened over Mazibuko’s departure.

This comes after Zille this week accused leaders in the party of seeking her destruction, along with Maimane’d.

Zille blamed a series of damaging leaks from closed-door meetings of the party’s federal executive on people trying to exploit the media to drive “personal succession agendas”.

Should he win the vote on Thursday, or be elected unopposed, Maimane will step into this poisoned atmosphere as the leader of a caucus comprising some of Mazibuko’s former allies, along with many newcomers to Parliament.

Maimane, a first-time MP, said he was anticipating some resentment over the perception he was Zille’s choice.

“You’ve got to create leadership that is fair, so one of the things I’m wanting to make sure of is that people don’t feel purged or that there are camps. That the best person will get the right portfolios, that the best person will be able to do the job,” Maimane said.

He was confident in the abilities of John Steenhuisen, whom he has tapped for the position of chief whip, and Anchen Dreyer as caucus chair.

Asked how he would avoid the mistakes Zille said Mazibuko had made in trying to show her independence by cutting off communication with the party leader, Maimane said this would have to be dealt with.

“One of the things that is not told about Helen Zille is that she allows people to lead, and I think we have to manage that, to make sure she frees up that space, that we can continue to do the job I’ve been appointed to do.”

A number of senior DA leaders have expressed unhappiness over the continued separation of the positions of party leader and parliamentary leader, a situation that allows Zille to continue as premier of the Western Cape.

craig.dodds@inl.co.za