That leaves 10% to be shared among smaller parties and the vibrant new start-ups and proto-parties such as Action South Africa (estimated 5%) Rise Mzansi and former DA leader Mmusi Maimane's Build One South Africa (Bosa) (AC Vol 64 No 8 Doubts greet the DA's 'moonshot' coalition)...

Others said that if it wants to attract black voters it would need to explain the exodus from its ranks of impressive black leaders such as Lindiwe Mazibuko Mmusi Maimane Phumzile van Damme Mbali Ntuli Herman Mashaba and Bongani Baloyi...

New entrantsThe 2024 race which includes 37 political parties will also see several independent candidates such as: veteran activist Zackie Achmat; and former Business Day editor and founder of the Rivonia Circle think-tank Songezo Zibi; and Build One South Africa's leader Mmusi Maimane...

On 19 January another coalition of political parties (Mmusi Maimane's Build One SA the IFP and UDM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) launched a civil action led by Mabuza Attorneys against Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan demanding there should be no power-cuts without 'procedural fairness' and suspending plans for tariff hikes...

Other leadership hopefuls in the 35-50 age group include former Democratic Alliance (DA) heavyweight Lindiwe Mazibuko former DA leader Mmusi Maimane and former deputy Finance Minister and state capture whistleblower Mcebisi Jonas...

His predecessor Mmusi Maimane will test the popularity of his Movement for One South Africa under the banner of local ratepayers' associations rather than forming a new political party...

This steady exodus that began with the resignation of Lindiwe Mazibuko as the DA leader in the National Assembly in 2014 the departure of then Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille in late 2018 followed by former party leader Mmusi Maimane in 2019 (AC Vol 61 No 4 Opposition in flux & Vol 60 No 23 The DA's race dilemma)...

Regional friendsHichilema's victory has been hailed by opposition politicians in the region with figures such as Zimbabwe's Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa Tanzania's Zitto Kabwe and South Africa's Mmusi Maimane attending the inauguration...

Ntuli is a former leader of the DA youth wing and in October 2020 unsuccessfully challenged John Steenhuisen for the leadership of the party after Mmusi Maimane left...