Mmusi Maimane’s apology accepted

25 November 2022

In 2018, it became apparent to the then-Executive Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille and a group of then-councillors that we were fronting for a political party that claimed a non-racial and transformative agenda while continuing to prioritise servicing privileged communities.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was our inability to convince then-colleagues of the necessity to start unstitching the apartheid Group Areas Act and integrating residents through developing affordable housing in the inner-city and surrounding areas.

Instead of presenting a coherent argument for its opposition to integration and transformative justice, the DA adopted a strategy of lying about our integrity. We were falsely accused of everything from corruption to maladministration to racism…

Four times, before our resignation near the end of 2018, De Lille had to seek the protection of the High Court to stop the slander, winning each case. These cases cost the DA nearly R1m in legal fees for De Lille’s lawyers, alone.

The DA at the time was led by Mmusi Maimane, its first leader of colour. Hurtful as it was to see him join the fray and attack our character based on false facts, we understood the pressure he would have been under to defend his party’s racial credentials.

Of course, De Lille was the first of what was to become a succession of resignations and forced removals of Black DA leaders – including Maimane – that continues to this day.

Time is a great healer. Over the past year I have had occasion to meet Maimane on several occasions. Despite our going separate political ways, now that the fog of our brush with the DA has lifted it is clear that there are many values and principles that we still share.

South Africa’s political landscape is shifting from an era of two-party dominance to an era of coalition government. There are good, committed, patriotic South Africans in all parties and communities. It makes no sense for such people to be at odds.

I therefore have no hesitation in accepting Maimane’s apology unequivocally.

Apology. pic.twitter.com/9EXldFF1O5

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) November 24, 2022

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament, 25 November 2022