Maimane to announce his decision on DA party leader standing

Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, says he will announce by Sunday afternoon whether he will stand for the post of the party’s national leader.

Maimane has been speaking to journalists after addressing the party’s fund raising function in East London. He is regarded as the favourite to take over from outgoing leader and Western Cape premier Helen Zille, who’d decline to avail herself for the position again at the DA’s elective congress next month.

Maimane set a time frame for his announcement. “All I have to say about that at this stage is that we needed some time. I have got one last consultation even this afternoon and will be able to make announcement certainly within the next 48hrs. You will have communication from me within the next 48hrs,” says Maimane.

Maimane says that they will embark on an aggressive campaign to try to win the Nelson Mandela Metro in the 2016 municipal elections.

“The conditions must be that we run a government that is non-racial. So the principles are already set out,” he says.

After addressing the fund raising function, Maimane proceeded to Orange Groove which is regarded as the political home ground for EFF in the province

DA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip says they should have won the struggling Buffalo City Metro long time ago if voters were not loyal to party politics.

Trollip has been nominated as the mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Metro in the up coming 2016 elections.

“The demographics are of such an importance to us that we have to do better in these elections.”

After addressing the fund raising function, Maimane proceeded to Orange Groove which is regarded as the political home ground for Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the province and convened a street meeting with the locals.