DA leader Maimane shoots down talk of party infighting in Eastern Cape

Warning:

This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.

PORT ELIZABETH, May 23 (ANA) – Democratic Alliance Leader Mmusi Maimane has confirmed that the Eastern Cape provincial chairperson, Veliswa Mvenya “withdrew from the organisation” earlier this month, but then sought to take time to reconsider her decision.

Maimane was in Nelson Mandela Bay on Monday to visit the city’s labour department and to engage unemployed residents who faced a number of challenges, particularly in the small business sector.

Responding to a question at a press conference at Vuyisile Mini Square at City Hall, Maimane said that Mvenya had been going through a “very difficult time within her own self”.

“She made a decision that she wants to withdraw from the organisation. We discussed the matter, it’s right that we discuss these issues. She’s at the point right now considering what she wants to do,” said Maimane.

He further refuted reports of apparent infighting within the party in the Eastern Cape – with relations apparently tense between Mvenya and provincial leader Athol Trollip.

“It’s nonsense about political infighting, it cannot begin to be true. It’s a personal matter, she said to us that she wants to reconsider and she wants to think about it. We’ve given her that option.”

“Any person in the organisation has a right to say- look I’m not in a healthy space, I want to take a decision to step aside for a little, that’s her own choice, no one is going to defend against it. The organisation is dealing with the matter and I’m comfortable where we are with it,” said Maimane.

Looking at the unemployment in the country, Maimane put the spotlight on small business and highlighted a recent labour survey which had indicated that 8.9 million South Africans had lost their jobs.

“It’s a crisis in the making of the poor ANC government. They like to defend it and say it’s the commodity cycle, it’s the international climate, yet our colleagues in the SADC region are growing at rates faster than us.”

“Unemployment is created through multiple variables, the most crucial is the fact that you have an ineffective state, especially at city level,” said Maimane.

– African News Agency (ANA)