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...

New political parties set up to contest the municipal elections – such as former Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane's One South Africa and former DA Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba's Action South Africa – as well as independent candidates are likely to take votes away from both the ANC and the DA the official opposition (AC Vol 61 No 4 Opposition in flux)...

After the DA vote plunged at the last general election its leader Mmusi Maimane resigned along with Mashaba (AC Vol 60 No 23 The DA's race dilemma)...