A 34-year-old Soweto –born lay preacher has been elected as the first black leader of South Africa’s largest opposition party.
Mmusi Maimane says he may have to give up his ministrations from the pulpit now he has taken on this job of growing the Democratic Alliance which is dishonestly dismissed by the ruling African National Congress as a white party.
Mmusi Maimane will retain the parliamentary leadership of the Democratic Alliance where he earned his spurs confronting President Jacob Zuma.
His first task will be to raise funds for the DA to contest next year’s municipal elections which will be his first acid test as leader.
The DA controls the Western Cape and runs a close second to the ANC in the heartland province of Gauteng.
Maimane says in his inaugural speech at the congress in Port Elizabeth that he leads a party that espouses the principals and diversity cherished by the last Nelson Mandela.
He’s adamant there’s no place for racism and division in the DA.
There will be place for black veteran Wilmot James who opposed him for the post vacated by Helen Zille who led the party for eight years and retains the Western Cape provincial leadership.
Tony Leon, who was DA leader before Zille says Maimane will have to adopt strategies to continue the growth the party that stresses service above the acquisition of private wealth.