Fuelled by his exposure to political activism during his childhood in Soweto and his work at a non-governmental organisation in Zandspruit, Mmusi Aloysias Maimane launched his political career in early 2006. In an interview with SMF News, the politician, businessman, and author discusses his call to politics and how his time at the Democratic Alliance shaped his approach to leading his current party, Build One South Africa.
Mmusi Maimane is currently the leader of Build One South Africa, a political party that he started as a civic organisation to give power back to the people, he says. PHOTO: Supplied/Build One South Africa
“[Soweto] was this township where political activism and struggle was formed. Even if you yourself were not interested in politics, politics would certainly be interested in you.”
Mmusi Maimane, currently a member of the National Assembly, is serving as a Member of Parliament for Build One South Africa (BOSA) — a political party he established in 2022 — following the South African national elections in 2024.
However, Mmusi’s political journey began long before the 2024 national elections or even his establishment of BOSA. It dates back to his primary school years in Dobsonville, Soweto.
Mmusi, who was born in 1980 in Krugersdorp, says he initially envisaged himself as a Catholic priest. However, exposure to political activism throughout his life steered him toward a different path — one of fighting for justice.
“It inspired me as a biblical calling but also a consciousness conviction question,” Mmusi adds.
‘The hub of black life’
His childhood in Soweto shaped the person he is today “in every way,” says Mmusi.
“Soweto is an incredible township — not only was it politically a home to people like Nelson Mandela […] it became the hub of black life during apartheid,” Mmusi says.
“As tough as life and conditions were, there was a chemistry and interaction of many South Africans that I would wish for any child,” he adds.
Mmusi cites Soweto as pivotal in shaping both his politics and his faith. Soweto is his home, he says, where his very being finds its expression.
“I grew up Catholic and went to a Catholic school there, in a universe where the Catholics genuinely believed that black kids could learn,” Mmusi says.
“One of the biggest influences in my life was a Catholic nun, who opened my mind to ideals like black consciousness and what [it meant] to be proudly black,” he adds.
Through his involvement with the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in Soweto, Mmusi says politics became a “familiar game.”
His early adulthood work with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Zandspruit that exposed him to the harsh realities of the sanitation crisis there, also prompted him to take action.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Build One South Africa political party, says that his biggest influence growing up in Soweto was a Catholic nun, Sister Christina Motluong. PHOTO: Amy Lindstrom
The art versus the science
Mmusi joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2010 while working with the NGO in Zandspruit. He was elected the party’s leader in 2015, becoming the DA’s first Black South African leader and the youngest person to ever lead the DA — a title he says only truly dawned on him later.
“You don’t set out to be the first anything. I think more than anything, the bigger conversation was what it would mean to black South Africans for this South African to join what was historically known as a white party,” Mmusi says.
Mmusi praises the DA, describing it as “one of the most organised parties, not only in South Africa but on the continent.”
However, his time with the DA was challenging, says Mmusi. According to him, politics is both an art and a science, and the DA struggled to master both simultaneously.
“I think [my time at the DA] taught me the science. I think it challenged the art because, to me, it felt like, at times, you could betray your sense of self,” says Mmusi.
Non-racialism and multi-racialism were especially important to him during his tenure. He emphasises that when biology intersects with circumstances, it is crucial to consider the pain experienced by different people.
“You can’t go back to people in Soweto and say to them, ‘ We don’t see the injustice that is in Soweto, we just see it as another township’ and fail to address that,” says Mmusi.
“[It is] then possible that a young black entrepreneur might have a brilliant idea, but battle to find funding,” adds Mmusi.
This is a sentiment shared by his wife, Natalie Maimane. She says that they both want to see a South Africa where all South Africans have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
A balancing act
Family and friends are a fundamental part of Mmusi’s life as a politician, says Natalie.
“Our family and extended family are all very supportive of him. […] Even just socially having people spend time with you who don’t demand anything of you is very precious,” Natalie says.
“We have to be quite deliberate about time [when Mmusi is home]. He tries to be as present as possible,” she adds.
Faith and religion are very important to Mmusi, he says. He explains that they shape his convictions, provide him with the courage to fight for justice, and offer role models for him to follow.
“I think sometimes we treat faith and religion as just a spiritual activity but we also forget that the Bible itself gives you models,” Mmusi says.
“I wanted to be a Catholic priest [when I was growing up]. I ended up in ministry as a youth pastor at a church but that’s what I wanted to be,” adds Mmusi.
However, Mmusi says that being a person of faith is especially challenging within the political world. He feels limited by what he calls the “eye-for-an-eye mentality” of many politicians, and that it is often difficult to avoid settling scores.
Natalie, Mmusi Maimane’s wife, says that family is of utmost importance to them and that balancing family life with Mmusi’s career requires effort. The two have been married since 2005 and have three children together, Mmusi says. PHOTO: Supplied/Mmusi Maimane
Beyond the world of politics
In addition to his work in the political space, Mmusi is also currently completing his doctoral thesis at the University of Johannesburg’s College of Business and Economics, he says. His research aims to explore and address the failures of local government.
“One of the things I’m raising is the fact that people who end up at local government don’t always know what to do at local government. […] The net effect of it is that local government collapses,” explains Mmusi.
Mmusi is also heavily involved in community work. This is according to Dirk van Der Mescht, a member of the Mandela Bay Community Movement in Gqeberha.
“Because Mmusi is a well-known public figure, he helped to raise awareness for our cause in the communities where we work,” Dirk says. “He had a wealth of knowledge to share with us that helped us to be more effective at what we do.”
Mmusi has also released two books, the most recent one titled Dare to Believe, provides insights into his decision to leave the DA, he says.
His childhood in Soweto, his early career in politics, and his departure from the DA have all influenced where he is today, Mmusi says. He uses these life experiences to guide his approach as the leader of BOSA.
‘A movement, not a moment’
Mmusi originally established BOSA as a civic organisation, he says.
“We started it because we wanted to be a movement for all South Africans. We started it because we wanted to give power back to the people,” says Mmusi.
“We just wanted to make it possible for people to have a voice and to retake their democracy.”
His ultimate goal for the party is to fight for the salvation of democracy, he says.
“My five-year plan for BOSA is to always keep fighting […], to make it a movement not a moment,” Mmusi adds.