Maimane finds fault in Ramaphosa’s first 100 days
The three DA leaders were, however, not without praise for the president.
DA Leader Mmusi Maimane. Picture: Neil McCartney
DA leader Mmusi Maimane today held a press conference to weigh in on his assessment of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first 100 days.
Alongside DA shadow minister in the Presidency Sejamothopo Motau and chief whip John Steenhuisen, Maimane outlined his views on the performance of our new president, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the leader of the opposition and his two colleagues had some criticism.
DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency, Sejamothopo Motau, DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane and DA Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen brief media about their review of the first 100 days of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at their headquarters in Bruma, 21 May 2018. Picture: Neil McCartney
The trio were not without praise for the president, noting that his cracking down on inefficiency, corruption and incompetence on state-owned enterprise boards was a positive sign.
However, they also said it had become apparent Ramaphosa was still constrained by his party and that cracks were showing between himself and various interest groups that got him elected.
They also claimed he could not bring about the positive change that South Africa needed and that South Africa’s ‘Ramaphoria’ was unwarranted.
DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency, Sejamothopo Motau, DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane and DA Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen brief media about their review of the first 100 days of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at their headquarters in Bruma, 21 May 2018. Picture: Neil McCartney
The DA itself has not been without controversy recently, with their handling of the recent Patricia De Lille matter and the internal clapback to Maimane’s tweets about white privilege leading some analysts to suggest the party is dogged by factionalism and racism.
Whether their criticism of Ramaphosa offers voters as much incentive to back the beleaguered opposition party at the polls in 2019, as their opposition to ex-president Jacob Zuma has in the past, remains to be seen.
DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency, Sejamothopo Motau (Pictured) joined DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane and DA Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen brief media about their review of the first 100 days of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at their headquarters in Bruma, 21 May 2018. They say there has been some positive changes regarding SOE boards, but they feel it has become apparent that he is still constrained by his party and that cracks are showing within his party between himself and some interest groups that got him elected and he cannot bring about the positive change that South Africa needs. Picture: Neil McCartney
DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency, Sejamothopo Motau, DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane and DA Chief Whip, John Steenhuisen brief media about their review of the first 100 days of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at their headquarters in Bruma, 21 May 2018. They say there has been some positive changes regarding SOE boards, but they feel it has become apparent that he is still constrained by his party and that cracks are showing within his party between himself and some interest groups that got him elected and he cannot bring about the positive change that South Africa needs. Picture: Neil McCartney
DA Leader, Mmusi Maimane briefs media about their review of the first 100 days of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at their headquarters in Bruma, 21 May 2018. They say there has been some positive changes regarding SOE boards, but they feel it has become apparent that he is still constrained by his party and that cracks are showing within his party between himself and some interest groups that got him elected and he cannot bring about the positive change that South Africa needs. Picture: Neil McCartney
