Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has reached out to his former Democratic Alliance (DA) counterpart Mmusi Maimane with words of encouragement.
Malema was reacting to Maimane’s tweet about resigning from the DA and Parliament on Thursday.
He replied, “I’m not home but when I come back we should have lenakana la monna wa mosepidi. You are a good human being; don’t be discouraged, my big brother.”
In the Sepedi part of his tweet, Malema was in essence inviting Maimane to a drink to reflect on the latter’s eventful past few days.
Twitter users react
Maimane, who has already changed his Twitter bio and replaced his earlier DA-related profile and header images, has not yet reacted to the EFF leader’s tweet.
However, Twitter users were quick to praise Malema for his kind and brotherly words to Maimane.
@FundVbs wrote, “I don’t support you but you played well here. Very well. Hoping this is not sarcasm.”
@Common_man18 added, “He always said it was never personal, it’s politics. Leadership Malema! Well played.”
“Aaah I just love Juju, such human. Thank you for not knocking him down while he is already down,” wrote @DoveNianda.
Others, such as @Abuti_Lerato, asked Malema to consider uniting with Maimane and outgoing Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba: “Please CIC… See what we can do. I think with Herman, we will have something very strong we can forward.”
DA moving on quickly
Meanwhile, the DA is moving on rapidly from this week’s momentous resignations of Maimane, Mashaba and former Federal Chairperson Athol Trollip.
In a statement, the party said the Federal Council will convene “as soon as practically possible” to elect an interim Federal Leader and interim Federal Chairperson.
It has also set a target of April 2020 to hold an early congress to elect its new Federal Leader.
DA’s parliamentary caucus further announced that Deputy Chief Whip Jacques Julius is the new interim Chief Whip.
John Steenhuisen automatically ceased being Chief Whip after Maimane resigned from Parliament.