Dr Thabisi Hoeane
The reality of South African politics is no opposition party will ever dislodge the ANC from power if it does not attract the major demographic of voters which are black. And influential people in the DA such as Tony Leon simply do not understand this – unless they are convinced of remaining a permanent opposition by solely clinging to white voters.
His comment that Musi Maimane is a “failed experiment” is very revealing to black people. You test because you are not sure and really convinced that something is going to work.
Thus, if leaders like Leon were taking a gamble with Maimane as leader of the DA and were not committed in principle to having a black leader, what are black people to make of the DA’s declaration that it is a party for all?
What about potential black leaders of the party; are they are also experiments in the making and what does that do to their confidence in remaining in the DA?
This also speaks to issues of cultural insensitivity and intolerance which people like Leon simply refuse to accept.
The Star