John Steenhuisen is a competent but uninspiring choice as DA leader

[Mike Hoxbig]

Nobody disputed that but they did lose support to the ANC as well. Some of their 'traditional' voters even had favorable views of Cyril and backed the ANC on the Presidential ballot.

That exercise was pointless for those who undertook it. There's no presidential ballot where you could have given him a mandate directly.

It was a vote for the ANC. Tomorrow they could decide to recall him, and what would that vote have been for?

 

[MrGray]

Can't read it as its behind a paywall, but the Daniel Friedman byline is about all I need to know about it's value. Apparently standup comics are now political pundits worthy of column space.

 

[Tokolotshe]

Nonsense, the seeds of the DA’s recovery has been planted by a white man.

I somehow don't think Aunty Helen identifies as a man.

 

[ForceFate]

Of course those things affected the vote -- although GOOD did far worse than many anti-DA posters predicted (the biggest prediction was the DA would lose its majority in the WC because of De Lille departing) -- but the leader is ultimately responsible for his party's performance and the DA's internal review did suggest that Mmusi stand down, as well as other two leaders.

They still managed to grow in other areas during municipal elections, culminating in enough votes to form a coalition government with smaller parties in Tshwane, Jozi and NMB. How did it go wrong from there?

The wrecking ball that is internal politics hogged headlines, followed by the de Lille PR disaster. Zille followed with ill-discipline on twitter, refusing to listen to the party leadership. This also kind of exposed Maimane and painted his presence in the leadership as a mere facade. During that time, ANC's propaganda machine was hard at work, doing enough to sway some of the new voters away from the DA. It's going to take a while (if ever) to get those back.

 

[Tokolotshe]

You forget the de Lille saga, the tweets, etc.

Which of the bigger parties did not have controversies?

 

[ForceFate]

Which of the bigger parties did not have controversies?

ANC is going to win elections whether they lie to voters or not (at least until the early 2020s. My crystal ball can't see beyond the next elections). The likes of DA, COPE, etc don't have that luxury.

 

[Tokolotshe]

ANC is going to win elections whether they lie to voters or not (at least until the early 2020s. My crystal ball can't see beyond the next elections). The likes of DA, COPE, etc don't have that luxury.

The only 4 certainties to life in South Africa: Death, taxes, ANC lies and sheeple.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

if "inspiring" was a significant factor, how the fahq did MM get the job?!?

 

[Mrcricket]

if "inspiring" was a significant factor, how the fahq did MM get the job?!?

Some of the critics of MM appear to be having selective memory. There was no controversy about him being elected as DA leader in 2015 and he apparently beat Wilmot James by a landslide vote in 2015 when they elected the successor to HZ.

He appeared to be largely inspiring around the time when he did the ANC Ayisafani advertisement.