RANJENI MUNUSAMY: It's time Maimane walked away from his empty DA leadership
'Over the past three years, Maimane has spent much of his time fighting fires and having to dance on hot coals, mostly through the race politics of the DA'
EXTRACT
Unfortunately Maimane opened himself up to being the black face through which the DA’s old guard could continue to control the party while creating a façade that the party was being transformed.
Without a black leader, the DA had reached its growth ceiling and the only way to expand its support base was to attract urbane, aspirational young black people to a modern equal-opportunity party seemingly led and controlled by people like them.
That has now been exposed as a pretence.
Over the past three years, Maimane has spent much of his time fighting fires and having to dance on hot coals, mostly through the race politics of the DA and because he is clearly not the person calling the shots.
To his credit, Maimane has made some effort to assert his authority but those who control the party from the shadows are always able to override him.
When Lindiwe Mazibuko quit the DA for academia in 2014, many people were stunned that a talented, formidable young leader had decided to walk away from politics at a time when her career could have switched into high gear. She had been the DA’s parliamentary leader and distinguished herself as an impressive and fearless politician who was able to hold her own against experienced leaders, including former president Jacob Zuma. For years, she had refused to cow to bullies in the ANC who had tried to demean her. For some reason, however, she decided to throw in the towel after a fallout with the DA elite.Mazibuko walked away with her dignity intact. It is unclear whether the same would be said for DA leader Mmusi Maimane after the power barons in his party are done with him. Three years ago this week, Maimane became leader of the DA after being the favoured candidate of the party’s decision-makers, including the outgoing leader Helen Zille. Maimane had reached the pinnacle of South Afr...
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