Massive boost for Maimane’s campaign

Babalo Ndenze

MMUSI Maimane’s campaign to be the next leader of the DA received a massive boost yesterday, with over 100 Gauteng delegates to the party’s federal congress pledging their support for him.

The Gauteng delegates join provinces like the Eastern and Western Cape, where delegates have pledged their support for Maimane.

The provinces in support of Maimane, according to his campaigners, make up about 60 percent of the party’s entire electorate at congress.

The federal congress is the highest decision-making body of the party, and is made up of delegates who are ordinary members and public representatives from DA branches across the country.

In a letter to Maimane, DA chief whip in the Gauteng legislature Mike Moriarty listed 144 delegates who will vote for Maimane come May 10. “On behalf of myself and the colleagues from Gauteng listed below, we wish to congratulate you and indicate that we will be voting for you in the upcoming federal congress. We wish you every success,” wrote Moriarty.

The names on the letter include a number of prominent Gauteng DA public representatives and party office-bearers – Solly Msimanga, DA MPL and Gauteng chairperson; Marius Redelinghuys, DA MP and national spokesperson; MP and spokeswoman on justice Glynnis Breytenbach; and Anchen Dreyer, an MP and the party’s deputy federal chairperson.

A senior member of the party said the support from Gauteng would go a long way towards ensuring Maimane’s success.

“Gauteng is behind Mmusi and the Eastern Cape. Western Cape leader Patricia de Lille has already announced she’s backing Mmusi. We will have about 400 delegates, which is about 60 percent of the electorate,” said the member.

Maimane’s campaign team released a statement to members, stating that the endorsements by the members follow DA Western Cape leader De Lille’s letter of support for Maimane, which was released at the weekend.

“There’s a groundswell of support inside and outside the party for Maimane to become the next leader of the Democratic Alliance. DA delegates want a leader that can win over voters who share the DA’s values but do not yet vote for the party. This is what Maimane offers, which is |why the party is swinging behind his candidacy,” said Maimane’s campaign manager‚ Geordin Hill-Lewis.

This week will also see candidates meet head on in meetings around the country, where they will try to convince party representatives why they should be elected at the party’s federal congress on May 9 and 10.

Maimane and his closest rival, Wilmot James, are also set to face off in a television debate on Monday.