None was more scathing in his criticism of the party leader than the current provincial leader of the DA‚ Bonginkosi Madikizela‚ who questioned the wisdom of Maimane standing in the province already governed by the DA instead of focusing on getting the ANC below 50% in next year’s elections.
“Firstly‚ the federal leader in terms of the constitution has the right to stand on any list… We are in government in the Western Cape. We might be experiencing some challenges but we are not going to lose Western Cape‚ I am saying that with confidence because‚ besides the challenges that we have‚ the opposition has its own challenges‚” said Madikizela.
“Strategically as the party… the next target is Gauteng and the Northern Cape… I find it strange that the federal leader would abandon the national project‚ because remember we have a national project to get the ANC below 50%‚ but also if the target is to win two extra provinces‚ you would expect the federal leader who believes that he has a profile that is better than us – and that is true – could have made himself available in one of those two provinces.
“I must be honest‚ I find it strange that the federal leader would make himself available in a province that we are governing. I have made those views very clear and known to him‚” said Madikizela on Saturday.
According to DA sources‚ Madikizela was in the top three of those the party was considering for Western Cape premier candidacy‚ behind Alan Winde and David Maynier.
In its statement on Tuesday‚ the party said its national electoral objectives stood as Maimane’s number one priority‚ and the party stood behind his commitment to build a better South Africa and stronger DA.
“It is essential that we grow our support across the country in order to bring change that builds One South Africa for All.”