Get ready for Mosa: We are going to be disruptive in how we do our politics, says Maimane

Mmusi Maimane hit the political ground running, announcing a movement founded on the principles of the Freedom Charter, with a focus on youth and future-oriented leadership

As former DA leader Mmusi Maimane continues coordinating and building his political organisation, it seems he has lofty goals which his Movement for One South Africa (Mosa) will be grounded on.

Speaking on the sidelines of a wine and politics event held by the German political party foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung last week, Maimane told City Press that he will be focusing on 10 Freedom Charter-style pillars which will guide his movement.

He said the pillars would look at solving the energy crisis in South Africa, improving the justice system, job creation, curbing crime, immigration, technology, disease control and education.

Maimane articulated the need for a movement that is close enough to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans while keeping a safe distance from the dilemmas of being a full-blown political party.

“We are going to be disruptive in terms of how we do our politics. Political parties have become traditional and sloganist, and we have to reform that. We have to speak the language of the future and get young people engaged,” he said.

Although Maimane was evasive about the individuals and organisations which will be aligned to Mosa, he did confirm that working with former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba was still on the table.

“We [Mashaba and I] will continue to work together. We are not fighting, we are not divided and his party must become part of the movement,” Maimane said.

He confirmed that his team was in talks with Mashaba’s People’s Dialogue to find a way to work together.

“There is a technical team that has been dealing with us, doing certain aspects together. It is quite advanced, but I am not at liberty to give details.

“But it is not likely that we will end up in divergent ways. I want to bring [The People’s Dialogue] on board, but it has to be part of the movement,” Maimane said.

The former mayor revealed to City Press two weeks ago that he would be forming his own political party and there was an expectation that he would be leading the party alongside Maimane.

However, it quickly emerged that Maimane was working on his own project.

In a joint statement released last week, the pair said they did not view their organisations as competing initiatives.

They explained that their main goal was to fix South Africa and this would only be possible through collective efforts of all those who stand opposed to corruption and stand for the vision of a South Africa that works for all its people.

“We would like to emphasise that we have the deepest respect for one another and continue to support each other’s respective, independent efforts to deliver real, transformational change in South Africa,” the statement read.

Although he was unable to name other groups that would be involved, Maimane indicated that he was in talks with smaller political parties, non-governmental organisations and religious bodies.

“We are advocating reforms and the first most important reform is electoral reform. This is a movement for all South Africans, so it includes non-governmental organisations and religious bodies.

“It is [not only a] question of electoral and political reform, [although] they are the issues we would like to concentrate on,” he said.

Maimane went on to explain that he was hoping to draw South Africans from all walks of life to be a part of his movement.

“The power of the movement is [in not trying to] reduce people to a body politic, [it is in encouraging them to] be active in their own community.

“Activism is the driver, so in the diversity of our country people can be activists in whatever space they occupy,” said Maimane.

He believes that it would be better to concentrate on steering the country in the right direction instead of alienating potential members through ideology.

“We want to get the business done and we want to make sure that our public representatives are accountable.

“We want to be active and people are already doing some incredible work in the country. Let the people take back their power,” he encouraged.

Both Mashaba and Maimane cut ties with the DA last year after Helen Zille was elected federal council chair.

The expats felt that the party was no longer in line with their belief systems.

Queenin Masaubi Political journalist | City Press

+27 11 713 9001 Queenin.Masuabi@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

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