PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA APRIL 07: Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane ahead of the partys Federal Alliance Congress at the Tshwane Events Centre on April 07, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. DA leader Mmusi Maimane and his supporters were reportedly dealt a major blow when they were forced to withdraw constitutional amendments to strengthen his grip on power. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Alon Skuy)
Senior DA members worried about ‘alienating’ white voters after Maimane’s “white privilege’ comments
Some senior members weren’t too happy about Maimane’s remarks on the matter…
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA APRIL 07: Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane ahead of the partys Federal Alliance Congress at the Tshwane Events Centre on April 07, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. DA leader Mmusi Maimane and his supporters were reportedly dealt a major blow when they were forced to withdraw constitutional amendments to strengthen his grip on power. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Alon Skuy)
According to a report from this weekend’s City Press, Mmusi Maimane was taken to task over his comments on “white privilege”.
Senior party leaders apparently took issue with some of Maimane’s comments, with three big wigs “mounting an orchestrated attack on him during a heated caucus meeting on Thursday”, the City Press reported.
Maimane made these comments at a Freedom Day rally. He said:
“When we speak the truth, there is such a thing that we must confront of white privilege and black poverty.”
Using his wife as an example, Maimane said:
“She had the privilege of knowing that one day she will go to university, one day she will live in a house, one day she won’t be afraid of crime and murder in communities. That is what I call white privilege.”
The City Press claims that Deputy Chief Whip Mike Waters, Chief Whip John Steenhuisen and MP Natasha Mazzone are afraid that such comments will “alienate white voters” ahead of next year’s general elections. MP Ghaleb Cachalia was also apparently part of the group that raised concerns.
Those who reportedly raised these issues did not comment directly on “internal party matters”, however, Cachalia told the City Press his comments related to “Maimane’s juxtaposition of white privilege and black poverty” adding that the matter is “complex” and requires “ongoing engagement”.
Maimane said that he will not apologise for his comments because South Africa remains a “deeply unequal society in which black South Africans remain locked out of opportunities, even after 24 years of democracy”.
He told City Press:
“The systemic consequences of apartheid still remain. The ANC has done little to break down this inequality and as the DA we want to break these barriers down,” Maimane said.
According to the paper, though, Maimane said that he felt the caucus meeting ended on a positive note where everyone had a chance to share their views.
Maimane was re-elected as leader of the DA less than a month ago and was also taken to task by South African Twitter for comments made at the same rally. The party leader said that people call him “mini-Mandela” – a remark that raised hysterics and questions on social media.
