Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said yesterday he would announce within 48 hours whether or not he will stand as party leader.
Asked by the Saturday Dispatch at a media briefing in East London yesterday if he would stand, Maimane said he had thought about it.
The party is set to decide on its new leader at its federal congress in Port Elizabeth on May 10 after Helen Zille announced last Sunday she would not stand.
He said it was critical he spent time “personally reflecting” on the nature of Zille’s decision. Maimane said he also wanted to allow the party to go through with its processes.
“Helen has left a massive void and all I have to say about that at this stage is that we needed to spend a lot of time consulting and I’ve one more consultation this afternoon,” he said.
He said the DA was ready to be led by anyone of any racial background who would take the party forward.
The DA parliamentary leader and senior leaders from the Eastern Cape were in East London yesterday to meet with local business before visiting Orange Grove informal settlement.
Among provincial leaders present was DA provincial leader Athol Trollip and DA provincial chairwoman Veliswa Mvenya.
In Orange Grove, Maimane met with residents who complained about the slow pace of rolling out RDP houses.
Noncedo Bavuma said she had lived in the informal settlement for 15 years.
“All we want are decent houses and we have been waiting for that but nothing has been happening.
“Maimane must help us sort this mess.”
Maimane said he would write to Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to visit Orange Grove. He said the decision would be communicated to the community by local leaders.
The settlement is the home ground of suspended provincial Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Themba Wele.
The DA visit was part of efforts to grow the party’s support ahead of the local government elections next year.
The party aims to win the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
Maimane said there were conditions in place to deal with any possible coalition with other opposition parties in municipalities.
These entailed not allowing cadre development, making service delivery a priority and having a non-racial government.
Trollip said it would take five years for the Buffalo City Metro to be ready for the DA and that if people voted with their feet, the ANC would have lost the metro a long time ago.
“Unfortunately South Africans do not understand that local government elections are about provision of services,” Trollip said. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Maimane woos BCM voters
Asked by the Saturday Dispatch at a media briefing in East London yesterday if he would stand, Maimane said he had thought about it.
The party is set to decide on its new leader at its federal congress in Port Elizabeth on May 10 after Helen Zille announced last Sunday she would not stand.
He said it was critical he spent time “personally reflecting” on the nature of Zille’s decision. Maimane said he also wanted to allow the party to go through with its processes.
“Helen has left a massive void and all I have to say about that at this stage is that we needed to spend a lot of time consulting and I’ve one more consultation this afternoon,” he said.
He said the DA was ready to be led by anyone of any racial background who would take the party forward.
The DA parliamentary leader and senior leaders from the Eastern Cape were in East London yesterday to meet with local business before visiting Orange Grove informal settlement.
Among provincial leaders present was DA provincial leader Athol Trollip and DA provincial chairwoman Veliswa Mvenya.
In Orange Grove, Maimane met with residents who complained about the slow pace of rolling out RDP houses.
Noncedo Bavuma said she had lived in the informal settlement for 15 years.
“All we want are decent houses and we have been waiting for that but nothing has been happening.
“Maimane must help us sort this mess.”
Maimane said he would write to Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to visit Orange Grove. He said the decision would be communicated to the community by local leaders.
The settlement is the home ground of suspended provincial Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Themba Wele.
The DA visit was part of efforts to grow the party’s support ahead of the local government elections next year.
The party aims to win the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
Maimane said there were conditions in place to deal with any possible coalition with other opposition parties in municipalities.
These entailed not allowing cadre development, making service delivery a priority and having a non-racial government.
Trollip said it would take five years for the Buffalo City Metro to be ready for the DA and that if people voted with their feet, the ANC would have lost the metro a long time ago.
“Unfortunately South Africans do not understand that local government elections are about provision of services,” Trollip said. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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