‘I will continue to climb’ – Mmusi Maimane

He may be at the height of his political career, but Mmusi Maimane, Democratic Alliance Parliamentary leader, continues to strive for success.

Born and bred in Dobsonville, Maimane resides in Weltevreden Park with his wife and children.

Although he commutes between Gauteng and Cape Town where he is based, he is still proud of the DA’s election results in Gauteng.

Maimane managed to captivate the nation with his criticism of the State of the Nation Address, taking on President Jacob Zuma.

What really inspires Maimane?

“I love South Africa so much, and what brings tears to my eyes is South Africans who, despite all odds, achieve what others would have deemed impossible. When I watch a disabled person do something amazing, it inspires me.”

This young politician is in fine spirits – despite criticism from the ANC’s Human Settlement Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who called him a ‘hired native’ and a ‘commodity’.

“The ANC has inherited the trick that says you have betrayed your own black people. I understand where Lindiwe Sisulu’s comments come from….it is a strategy they use in order to make people think I am not black,” he says.

“I wasn’t hurt, what keeps me going is reminding myself that I am here to serve the people of South Africa – the other day I was at the airport, feeling low about my job, and then you meet South Africans out there who appreciate what you do.”

My first encounter with politics

An accomplished man academically, Maimane has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, two master’s degrees – in theology and in public and development. And he says politics was not part of the plan.

“My first encounter with politics was when I saw Chris Hani lying in a pool of blood… I remember the tracksuit that Tokyo Sexwale was wearing… it was the most disturbing event of my life. I remember writing in a little book, saying apartheid will take 40 years,” he recalls.

Maimane, who is also referred to as the South African Barack Obama, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his accents, and the way he uses them to address different people.

“It is not about having two accents – of course my tone is different, depending on who I am talking to. People want to go at my accent because they want to declassify me as no longer black….there is a narrative that has been created that says if you want to be relevant to the black people then we must all sound like the president or Julius Malema,” he explains.

My first day in Parliament

After former DA Parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko’s sudden political departure, Maimane accepted the nomination to take over her role.

During the elections he was gunning for Gauteng premiership and the DA did well in most of the wards in Randburg. The percentages were as follows: Ferndale 72, Blairgowrie 80, Northriding 82 and Linden 69 just to mention a few.

“My first day in Parliament was historic”, he smiles.

“I was one of the 400 that were sworn in and I really felt privileged. It is challenging to get people to agree on policies.”

Asked about his ‘bromance’ with Julius Malema, after the EFF leader was qouted by media saying he will protect Maimane from the ANC – could it be that the two are now friends?

“I like Julius, but we are not friends at all, we get along just fine, I don’t agree with some of his party’s policies. I think there is a lot of hypocrisy in the EFF’s policies. They are trying to nationalise things while they are living the lavish life? Same goes for the ANC, they are not the same anymore, we need change in government,” argues Maimane.

“I want to be the best, I want to grow the DA, I want to make sure South Africa get more opportunities than ever before.”

As much as Maimane disagrees with Zuma, he says he respects him as an adult.

He concludes by saying he lives by the words of Nelson Mandela– ‘after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more others to climb’.