Mmusi Maimane has resigned as the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). Maimane’s resignation comes two days after Herman Mashaba announced his resignation from the party and subsequently as Johannesburg mayor.

Mashaba’s resignation has already placed the DA’s position on coalitions at risk and Maimane’s resignation could make matters worse.

Athol Trollip also confirmed his resignation from the party and exit from politics.

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In what proved to be an absorbing press conference, Mmusi Maimane’s official resignation speech went down a storm. Well, maybe not for the senior factions of the DA. The outgoing leader confirmed his departure on Wednesday after multiple delays held up the proceedings.

Maimane, who was famed for the pressure he put on Jacob Zuma during their face-offs in Parliament, ended up taking a leaf out of Msholozi’s book and working to his own schedule. By the time the 39-year-old emerged to face the media, we were edging towards a three-hour pushback.

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“Make no mistake, along the journey there have been many difficulties. I fought battles with Helen Zille, especially regarding her comments – and the impact of her comments – as it pertained to colonialism. These sentiments did not help build trust between black and white South Africans, and they undermined the project the party was engaged in.”

“However, over the past months, it has become quite clear to me that there exists a grouping within the DA who do not see eye to eye with me and do not share this vision for the party and the direction it was taking. There has been for several months a consistent and coordinated attempt to undermine my leadership and ensure that either this project failed, or I failed.”

“This extended to the smear campaign that was run on the front pages of an Afrikaans weekly paper in an attempt to destroy my name and my integrity. This cowardly behaviour has put my wife and two young children in great danger as pictures of our home were published in the media.”

The DA Leader noted how he’d spent the “past few days” assessing his future in the party. He shared that results of his ruminations noting:

“And in the end, we have come to the conclusion that despite my best efforts, the DA is not the vehicle best suited to take forward the vision of building One South Africa for All.”

He revealed the role he would keep in the DA saying: “I will continue in the role as parliamentary leader until the end of the year, after which the party will go to Congress to elect new leadership.”

Maimane revealed that he wasn’t bitter adding that he wished the political party “all the success in the future under the guidance of Helen Zille as the new Federal Council Chairperson.”

BREAKING: the moment #MmusiMaimane resigned. “The DA is not the best vehicle to take forward the vision of one South Africa”. pic.twitter.com/jZcGxNau0y — Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) October 23, 2019