THE South African electorate in recent years has become accustomed to vigorous electioneering ahead of the elective conferences of the governing African National Congress (ANC). It’s done in a peculiar manner, though — groups arrange themselves into slates and much of the machinations are leaked to the media. So while the politicking is done in private, as long as interested people keep abreast of the media reports of the various publications, some insight into the intra-party electoral battles within the ANC comes to the fore, so the results tend not to be much of a surprise.By comparison the largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has offered a less transparent process — until now, that is. Helen Zille’s stepping down as leader opened up the position after seven years and though its parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, was seen as her natural successor, the entry of Wilmot James as a contestant has invigorated the race.Mr Maimane, though a talented orator and highl...
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