9th September 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s main opposition
party, the Democratic Alliance, to deliver the Royal African
Society’s Annual Lecture”
Mmusi Maimane, the first ever black leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic
Alliance (DA) will be delivering the Royal African Society’s Annual Lecture next Tuesday 15th
September 2015 at the Royal Society of Medicine in central London.
Maimane’s rise to national attention began in 2011, when he was elected to be the DA’s
Johannesburg mayoral candidate in the Local Government Elections. Since becoming the youngest
leader of the DA in May 2015, he has been aggressively expanding the party’s reach to poor black
townships and rural areas. He has been criticising the African National Congress (ANC), who have
dominated South African politics since the end of apartheid, for issues such as widespread
corruption and ineffective foreign policy. As the DA’s share of the national vote rises, it secured 22%
of the vote in the last election, the popularity of the ANC is wavering.
Maimane is passionate about solving youth unemployment and the skills-shortage among black
youth that resulted from the unequal education policies of Apartheid. He strongly believes that the
route to reaching South Africa’s potential is through education, and growing the economy to create
jobs and decrease dependence and social grants.
During his lecture titled ‘Africa: Its potential and prospects’, Maimane will be discussing the need for
African governments to ensure inclusive economic growth for its citizens by protecting the integrity
of its democratic institutions and prioritising human rights based foreign policy.
Notes to Editors:
1.
The Royal African Society is a membership organisation that fosters a better understanding of Africa in the UK
and throughout the world. Our goal is to promote Africa globally in the spheres of business, politics, academia,
arts and culture. We disseminate knowledge and insight to make a positive difference to Africa’s development
and celebrate the diversity and depth of African cultures. www.royalafricansociety.org.uk
2.
Mmusi Aloysias Maimane was born on 6 June 1980 in Krugersdorp, Gauteng and was raised in Dobsonville,
Soweto. He has been the leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) political party since 10 May
2015. He defeated party chairperson Wilmot James for the position. He succeeds Western Cape Premier Helen
Zille as leader of the party and is the first black South African to lead the DA, as well as its youngest leader to
date. Before entering politics, Maimane worked as a business consultant, he has three degrees: a Bachelors in
Psychology from the University of South Africa (Unisa), a Masters in Public Administration from the University of
the Witwatersrand (Wits), and a Masters in Theology from the University of Wales.
3.
Zeinab Badawi was born in the Sudan but moved to London at the age of two. Zeinab studied Philosophy, Politics
and Economics at Oxford University and a Masters Degree (awarded with distinction) on Middle East History and
Anthropology at London University. Zeinab is one of the best known broadcast journalists working in the field
today. In 2009 she was awarded international TV Personality of the Year by the Association of International
Broadcasters, and in 2011 was named in Powerlist 2012 (published by Powerful Media) as one of Britain's top
100 most influential members of the black community. Her current work includes interviewing on Hard Talk for
BBC, which features some of the best known personalities in the world.
Contact for Press Queries
Shushan Tewolde-Berhan
E: ras_events@soas.ac.uk
T: 0203 073 8319