Embattled Mmusi Maimane has gone to ground as speculation that he will resign as leader of the DA as soon as this week swirls.
Business Day has been told by two senior party members that the leader has called in sick, following his appearance on Monday alongside Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba when he announced his resignation and delivered a blistering attack on the DA.
He was also not in parliament on Tuesday for deputy president David Mabuza's appearance to answer questions at the National Assembly.
Maimane’s spokesperson Azola Mboniswa on Tuesday said speculation that the DA leader would step down was “just a rumour”.
“He continues to lead the DA,” Mboniswa said.
An emergency federal executive meeting was called following Mashaba’s resignation and is due to sit on Wednesday. Maimane’s attendance at Mashaba's briefing, where he attacked the party, was likely to be raised.
Maimane’s attendance at Mashaba’s briefing was seen as an endorsement of the Johannesburg mayor’s views of the DA, which some senior members called ill-disciplined and showing a lack of leadership.
Mashaba said his resignation would come into effect on November 27, at the request of the party leadership.
Some officials are likely to use Wednesday’s federal executive meeting to argue that Mashaba should step aside immediately, in line with the party’s constitution.
The DA’s constitution states that if a member publicly declares his or her resignation or announces their intention to leave, their membership ceases. This was the case when former Cape Town mayor Patricia De Lille had her membership stripped after she went on 702 and she would resign once she had refuted allegations against her.
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