On the couch with Mmusi Maimane

HOWARD SACKSTEIN

“Why in an era of load shedding, government plundering, wholesale looting, a collapsing economy, why had the DA failed to capitalise on the collapse of South Africa?” In preparing for the interview, I practiced the question, over and over again, “We gave you one job Mmusi, but instead of delivering us from the rot of the ANC, the DA has been mired in internal squabbles, ego driven in-fighting, and unstable coalition governments.”

I went into the bridal room a sceptic, but I walked out a fan.

Maimane is warm, intelligent, articulate, and thoughtful. He has no delusions about winning the next election, but he is determined to reduce the ANC to below a 50% majority, and force it into a coalition with the DA to ensure accountability and good governance.

He comes across as authentic and sincere, speaks from the heart, and does not dodge any of the difficult questions I am determined to ask.

If the DA was in government, would you restore full diplomatic relations with Israel?

“Absolutely, because I believe in a two-state solution in the Middle East. For the existence of the state of Palestine, you must be willing to give full credibility to the state of Israel, otherwise, you are not a two-state solutionist, it’s just madness.”

The Jewish community seems “gatvol”. They have watched the years of Zuma looting, the Zondo Commission, the power outages… emigration is rising, what can you tell them?

“The hope is in a post-ANC South Africa. We have to break the ANC. The idea that Cyril needs a stronger mandate to do that is just a fallacy. We need to break it up, and reform politically. Jewish South Africans have a contribution to make to South Africa. They are citizens like anybody else. We will always ensure that their rights are protected. More than anything, we in the DA have shown that we can bring clean governance to South Africa. However imperfect Joburg and Tshwane are, no money is stolen, I know that for a fact. I think there is a hope. In 1990, people felt uncertain. We had De Klerk, he looked like he was reforming the Nats, but we had leadership, you bring in change, we went through transition, and we did it. It’s that moment again”.

Maimane didn’t just comment on the Jewish community, his views were far reaching and insightful. I questioned him about the political environment, the prospects for his party’s success, and about his relationship to the EFF and government.

The DA seems to be struggling to express a clear and concise message, what is its message?

“I don’t think that’s true. We have a job to speak to eight million people. Our message is clear, “One South Africa for all”, now it’s “a job in every home”.

Is the media being fair to you?

“Totally unfair. The English print media, Iqbal Surve through the PIC (Public Investment Corporation), has captured the Independent Group of newspapers. So, the Star, and all of those publications simply do not communicate anything that’s good about the DA. The Sunday Times has also decided to become a newsletter for Cyril, so frankly, I think we get a lot of negative press. The public broadcaster will cover us equitably based on the last election results from five years ago. We don’t speak enough about the capture of the media.”

What does this election look like out there?

“In the Northern Cape, we are leading the ANC for the first time ever. In Limpopo, in some areas the DA’s black support is even bigger than support for the EFF. We are a party for minorities, but not just for minorities. We are a party for the majority, but not just for the majority. We are a party for everyone. In KwaZulu-Natal we are growing. Why do you think Cyril is in Gauteng all the time? He knows they are in trouble here. The ANC is vulnerable in Gauteng. The DA is growing from national election to national election.”

What does success look like to you?

“The increased retention of the Western Cape, a government in the Northern Cape, and a government here in Gauteng. Because if you can do that, you will control the economic landscape of South Africa, and that’s important.”

You mentioned that you would not go into coalition with fascists. Who were you referring to?

“I don’t believe in parties that mobilise on the issue of race. That doesn’t just include the EFF. At times, I think we give the Freedom Front Plus a pass just because it is white. But some of its mobilisation [is around the message], ‘We are just for Afrikaners’. I will not stand for anyone who undermines the rights of other people and the EFF is very much in that space.”

But, of course, you are already working with the EFF in Johannesburg and Tshwane. That’s how you govern in those two metros. You are dependent on the EFF for a majority.

“I am not in a coalition with the EFF. It didn’t vote for our man in Tshwane. It didn’t vote for certain things in Nelson Mandela Bay, it didn’t vote for certain things in Joburg. Coalitions are the future. We’ve learned some very difficult lessons. Even having formally or informally worked with the EFF, we have never implemented its policies. The ANC implements its [the EFF’s] policies anyway. It wants to nationalise land, everything. I make it clear, given Gauteng, given the national picture, in a very complicated electoral cycle, we would never work with a fascist party. Once you get into national issues of healthcare and education, then your values become tested, and that’s why we would never work with a fascist organisation because they divide society.”

What’s your personal relationships like with Julius and Cyril?

“I don’t trust either of them, but we are professional enough to know what we need to do, and what we need to work on.”

And with that, it was back on the campaign trail. A flight to Bloemfontein, a trip to the Eastern Cape, then back to Gauteng… and the election train moves on.