In this interview, Mmusi Maimane discusses South Africa’s political future, coalition politics, non-racialism, and the possibility of the country electing its first non-ANC president in 2029. He argues that South Africa needs reformers focused on the future, not only on addressing the legacies of the past.
00:00 — Could South Africa elect its first non-ANC president in 2029?
01:27 — Why Maimane left the DA and how he sees the political landscape
03:47 — What a de-racialized South Africa could look like
06:42 — Race, inclusion, and leaving the Democratic Alliance
08:34 — Why Build One South Africa is still growing
10:30 — Coalition politics and the role of a centrist “kingmaker”
11:29 — Where former ANC voters are going
13:24 — Coalition red lines and working with corrupt parties
14:32 — How Maimane would approach South Africa’s relationship with Washington
15:31 — The white genocide myth and its domestic political roots
18:23 — Trade and practical steps to ease tensions with the US
19:15 — Why Maimane wants to be seen as a reformer
21:07 — Mandela’s legacy and the need for a new generation of leaders
22:04 — Faith in a secular, multi-religious country
23:31 — Shared identity, churches, and the search for political unity
25:19 — Why Maimane thinks a non-ANC president could emerge in 2029
26:49 — Why he believes he could be that leader
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“I want to be seen as a reformer.”
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“Mandela was the Moses, he certainly didn't send us into the promised land.”
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“I believe I could be” the first non-ANC president in 2029.
keywords
South Africa, de-racialization, coalition politics, economic reform, social unity, Musi Maimani, Build One South Africa, political change
key topics
De-racialization of South Africa
Coalition politics and role of Build One South Africa
Economic and educational reforms for equality
Managing international relations and foreign policy
Urban renewal and infrastructure in Johannesburg
sound bites
"Liberation movements fragment their surrogates, often the immediate beneficiaries."
"Building a non-racial centre is essential for South Africa's future."
"Johannesburg must be reimagined as a financial and technological hub."
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