Leader of South Africa’s Opposition Quits

The leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has stepped down this morning.

Mmusi Maimane, 39, said he no longer believed the DA was the “best vehicle” with which to create a better South Africa.

“There does come a time when all leaders must step back from all noise and conjecture, and make a sober and honest assessment as to what the future indeed does hold”, he said in a statement.

He continued “therefore it is with great sadness that in order to continue this fight for the vision I strongly believe and the country I so dearly love, I will today step down as leader of the DA”.

Maimane’s resignation is the third a week that has rocked the DA, following Johannesburg’s mayor Herman Mashaba, and Athol Trollip, who stepped down as the party’s Federal Chair yesterday.

The events of the past week have highlighted a dramatic rift in the party between a small core of predominately white, conservatives, and a predominately black, more liberal faction.

Helen Zille, the controversial former leader of the party came back onto the scene at the weekend, when she was elected as the new Federal Council Chairperson, the party’s number two, promoting Johannesburg mayor Mashama to quit.

Maimane’s departing speech has fuelled speculation that he will look to set up his own party with which to challenge the ruling ANC.