The DA has a leadership crisis. The problem is it did not start with Mmusi Maimane, and it will not end with him. This is clear from the manner in which leaders were appointed, from Helen Zille’s ill-fated smooch with then politician and former activist Dr Mamphela Ramphele to Lindiwe Mazibuko, Patricia de Lille and Maimane.

This underscores the DA’s reputation for propelling individuals into leadership posts and then discarding them like old socks...