Cape Town - The entire newly elected Democratic Alliance leadership in the Western Cape on Saturday gave its endorsement to Mmusi Maimane’s candidacy for national leader of the opposition party.
“I definitely will support him. I’m a big believer that Mmusi has the talent to take over from Helen Zille” said DA Western Cape chairman Anton Bredell while looking at his colleagues and asking who else would publicly back Maimane.
All eleven hands in the executive went up, including that of newly elected provincial leader Patricia de Lille.
De Lille confirmed she would not be throwing her hat into the ring nationally.
“The challenge to maintain the vote of the DA in this province and ensure it grows is a full time job,” said De Lille.
Maimane’s first public announcement of his candidacy, at the provincial congress earlier in the day, drew wide applause and had most of the close to a thousand delegates jumping out of their seats to cheer him.
Even those who lost out in the provincial leadership race like DA Western Cape heavyweight Theuns Botha, who will be replaced by human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela as deputy provincial leader, picked Maimane as frontrunner to take over the reigns from Helen Zille.
“I haven’t got words to describe my excitement about Mmusi becoming the new leader of the party,” Botha told the African News Agency.
“He’s a solid guy. Our new Barack Obama.”
Maimane’s talents as an orator and his charm would stand him in good stead, said Botha.
“In politics you must have emotional intelligence in leadership. That and vision. Mmusi has both,” said Botha.
“Mmusi taking over as DA leader – it’s a done deal in the Western Cape.”
DA MP Masizole Mnqasela, who will be contesting the position of DA federal chairman, was a lot more circumspect.
While acknowledging Maimane was a “bit hit” with Western Cape delegates, Mnqasela said there was concern about his inexperience.
“He’s not ready, but he needs our support, including my support. I think he’s starting to grow because of the PR around him,” said Mnqasela.
“Given time, he will grow into popularity. What’s important is we need someone to be able to grow our brand, but not at the expense of our values.”
Strong support from the Western Cape and Gauteng will be important for Maimane as delegates from these provinces make up over two thirds of the voting power when the DA holds its Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth on May 9 and 10.
ANA