[LISTEN] Steenhuisen denies ‘backstabbing’ Maimane to become DA leader
The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s new interim leader, John Steenhuisen has denied reports that he stabbed former party leader Mmusi Maimane in the back in order to take over at the helm.
Steenhuisen was responding to questions following the party’s federal council meeting in Bruma on Sunday, shortly after he was elected to succeed Maimane.
"In terms of backstabbing Maimane, I want to be very clear. I've never backstabbed him, I served him as a chief whip and I served him loyally and served him well.
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"It was not possible to tell him about running for interim leader, because he had resigned as leader and member of the party prior to this position becoming available," said Steenhuisen.
Listen to Steenhusien below:
The interim leadership puts Steenhuisen in pole position to take over from Maimane on a permanent basis when the DA holds its elective conference next year.
The party will first head into a policy conference in April before electing new leadership.
The policy conference will be followed by a federal congress, to be held in May, where a new permanent party leader will be elected.
Steenhuisen says the
apartheid legacy should be corrected through targeted
redress.
Listen to Steenhuisen below: