Publications
24 Oct 2019
New DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille has released a statement on behalf of the party following the resignations of both federal leader Mmusi Maimane and federal chairperson Athol Trollip.
She says the party wants to fill the positions as a matter of "urgency".
Read the full statement:
On Wednesday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive (FedEx) was informed of the personal decision of its Federal Leader, Mmusi Maimane, and Federal Chairperson, Athol Trollip to resign from their positions.
As the DA, we would like to thank Mr Maimane and Mr Trollip for their service to the Party and the country.
The DA is in the business of ensuring that the Democratic Project is not derailed by either internal or external issues. We can waste no time in working for an inclusive, prosperous democracy. To this end, strong and stable leadership in the DA is essential.
The FedEx was convened on Thursday morning to study a legal opinion by the DA Federal Legal Commission on the steps required to fill the leadership vacancies in a way that does not undermine the Federal Constitution and does not negatively affect the political operations of the DA.
The FLC is empowered to, inter alia, interpret the Federal Constitution.
In terms of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Leader is deputised by the Federal Chairperson, but the Federal Constitution is silent on the current situation where both positions have become vacant simultaneously.
On the advice of the FLC, the following steps will be followed
-*The Federal Council (FedCo) will be convened as soon as practically possible;
*FedCo will elect to elect an Interim Federal Leader and an Interim Federal Chairperson;
*A Federal Congress will be convened as soon as practically possible, with a provisional target of April 2020
The DA's political and operational structures have already began the work of giving effect to these steps, and want to reassure DA members, voters and South Africans at large that the DA will continue its work of effective and constructive opposition, and where were are in government, in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Limpopo, we will continue to improve the quality of governance.
The FedEx has also noted the developments of the Parliamentary Caucus, the decisions and actions of which will be communicated by the Interim Parliamentary Caucus Leadership.
We would like to thank our members and supporters for standing by us during this difficult period.
We remain committed to our values of Freedom, Fairness, Opportunity and Diversity.
24 Oct 2019
Steven Friedman: 'Imposter syndrome' explains why first black DA leader quit
Whether or not Mmusi Maimane was good at leading the DA, his resignation is important because it highlights one of the core problems of democratic South Africa - the assumption that the only way to do anything is the way white men did it in the past, writes Steven Friedman.
24 Oct 2019
John Steenhuisen has told radio host Eusebius McKaiser that he has been approached by a number of DA members to run for party leader, but wants "the bodies to cool" first while he "gives it consideration".
Steenhuisen appeared on McKaiser's Radio 702 show on Thursday, following the news that now former DA leader Mmusi Maimane had also resigned from his position in Parliament.
This effectively meant that Steenhuisen ceased being DA chief whip, as the parliamentary leader appoints the chief whip.
When asked if he would consider running to replace Maimane as party leader, Steenhuisen reportedly responded that the events had been tough and he wanted "the bodies to cool".
The question was a little early, but he was "giving it consideration" after being approached by a number of people.
He also told McKaiser that he had voted for Helen Zille to be the party's new federal council chairperson.
24 Oct 2019
Mmusi Maimane's tweet on his resignation from Parliament has been retweeted 3 700 times.
The hash tag #MmusiResigns is the top trending topic in SA
24 Oct 2019
Former DA leader Mmusi Maimane and the party's federal council chairperson Helen Zille are seen during Maimane's resignation announcement at the party's Bruma headquarters in Johannesburg.
In his speech, Maimane said the DA no longer has his vision of One South Africa for All.
Maimane's resignation was followed by that of former Nelson Mandela Bay Metro mayor Athol Trollip. (Veli Nhlapo, Gallo Images, Sowetan)
24 Oct 2019
DA to elect new parliamentary leader next week, Steenhuisen no longer chief whip - for now
The DA's parliamentary caucus will hold an election next week to choose its new parliamentary leader after Mmusi Maimane resigned on Thursday, said DA caucus chairperson and acting parliamentary leader Annelie Lotriet.
24 Oct 2019
DEVELOPING | DA in crisis: John Steenhuisen says he's no longer DA chief whip
The DA's John Steenhuisen says his term as party chief whip ended with the resignation of Mmusi Maimane as leader of the DA, reports have said.
Eyewitness News and Netwerk24 reported that Steenhuisen said his term was tied to that of the party leader.
Deputy chief-whip Jacques Julius will be acting chief-whip, Mail and Guardian reported.
It was not immediately clear if a new interim leader will re-appoint Steenhuisen as chief whip, or whether he will take the position up again were he to be re-appointed.
More to follow.
24 Oct 2019
GOOD Statement on the DA:
MMUSI MAIMANE GETS A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE
When I resigned from the DA on my own terms a year ago on 31 October 2018, it was after learning bitter lessons that the party's stated policies were window-dressing not matched by its practises in government.
I hate to say I told you so but I am going to say it anyway. I am not claiming to be a sangoma but I warned Mmusi Maimane that if he didn't stand on principle his party's laptop boys would swallow him up and spit him out. He saw the blue train coming but didn't know how to get out of the way.
The problem for Mmusi and his handlers in the DA is that none of them have a clue about principled leadership.
The DA is well on its way on the path of destruction, and it’s best we don’t disturb them.
South Africans who care about all our people must continue to come together for common GOOD.
To Mmusi I say: GOOD bye, Im glad to see you go and hope you have a GOOD time.
24 Oct 2019
24 Oct 2019
Mmusi Maimane resigns from DA and Parliament
Mmusi Maimane has announced that he has resigned from the DA and as member of Parliament.
24 Oct 2019
ANALYSIS | Elevated too early, Mmusi Maimane struggled to shape a new vision for the DA
Mmusi Maimane, who resigned on Tuesday as leader of the offical opposition, was recruited into the DA a decade ago. He didn’t grow up in the tradition of the party and its forbears – the Democratic Party, Progressive Federal Party or the United Party – and was a staunch supporter of the ANC until much later in his life.
24 Oct 2019
DA IN CRISIS | Maimane set to be axed as parliamentary leader after slamming the party
The DA, which is the country's biggest opposition party, is facing its biggest crisis yet after Mmusi Maimane resigned as leader on Wednesday, declaring that the party he has led for four years "is not the vehicle best suited to take forward the vision of building one South Africa".
