Maimane: Ramaphosa exit would have major economic implications

That it will be exactly what you and many South Africans fear: that question of just let's just divide our positions and hope for the best. You talk about that program of action. At this juncture, does anything make you confident then that the politicians who helped create municipal dysfunction can now negotiate their way out of it? Is there any renewed hope here? You know, the one thing that gives me a sense of hope is that political parties have been punished one way or another. Those were responsible for the demise. Today, the

Of Johannesburg has issued out a secular. Literally, over 10 suburbs in the city of Johannesburg are without water as we speak today. So, frankly, I think there's been a cost correction on the part of voters. So, my hope is that actually it is a sobering thought to say, well, you can't sloganeer your way or even try and negotiate your way through this. We have to confront the elephant in the room, which is how do we fix the municipalities? So, I do think when you raise that question, previously.

Previously, people would start off with going, well, let's talk about positions and constituencies. I think now there's a sobering effect that says, we don't have a choice. We best deal with where the shortfalls are here. Let me ask you about Johannesburg, and let me put this to you bluntly. Herman Mashaba, do you think he is part of the solution, or do you think his approach to coalition politics has become part of the problem? I think Herman Mashaba has had experience in the city of Johannesburg, so it would be helpful for him to play a role. But one of my greatest

Concerns, really, is one of the things that is underlying some of the negotiations that are starting to be of deep concern for me is this idea of polarizing South Africans on racial camps. So, almost as though you reject negotiating with that party because they are a particular race or whatever the issue is. I think what we need to do is to say to ourselves: if we believe in merit and we believe the best person for the job and we uphold coalition.

Principles. If Mr. Mashaba is the mayor of Johannesburg, I would hope that he surrounds himself with the best team that incorporates the best in all the other political parties that go from there. And it would be the same for anyone else. But I just think if we depart with the premise that says we just don't want to talk to those ones because they represent this color, this race, I think it is precisely why, in certain instances, municipalities have struggled. You led the Democratic Alliance, you've lived in the belly of the

Political beast, do you think the Zille Mushaba impasse can be resolved? I'm not optimistic about that, to be honest. I think that much of it is also about constituency management, and much of it, which maybe the best way I could explain it is that there is a national question here, which says: if local municipalities have taught us anything, is that you can have over 600 political parties represented.