JOHANNESBURG – Mmusi Maimane has rubbished Friday’s lead story in the Mail and Guardian.
The report claims that former president, FW de Klerk, may be tutoring the DA leader.
The newspaper says four party insiders confirmed that Maimane has been visiting de Klerk for what they refer to as leadership classes.
But Maimane told a Gauteng radio station that he had only met de Klerk once in 2014, and the two did not discuss leadership.
1. M&G story utter nonsense. As Leader of the Opposition, I meet former Leaders & State Presidents as a matter of course.
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) January 28, 2016
2. I met with former President de Klerk once back in 2014. Just like I recently met with former President Mbeki. It's a non-story
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) January 28, 2016
There was no comment from de Klerk in the report, as his spokesperson said he was travelling.
Maimane tweeted that as leader of the opposition, part of his job is to meet former leaders and state presidents.
#KnowYourDA: @mailandguardian says Mmusi Maimane has been taking "leadership lessons" from … "Freddy" de Klerk! pic.twitter.com/1TEdsgGixL
— Chris Vick (@chrisvick3) January 28, 2016
Top story: Mmusi Maimane on Twitter: "1. M&G story utter nonsense. As Leader of… https://t.co/574rH78Tiv, see more https://t.co/Htl6HZgjBj
— Akanyang Africa (@AkanyangM) January 29, 2016
This, from M&G Mmusi story, is odd: "Regardless of whether the allegations are true, the perception… is likely to cause further friction"
— Dylan Edwards (@dyled) January 29, 2016
Can we please be clarified on the Mmusi M&G story. Was it all lies? If so, I will never take M&G seriously again. That was a front page!
— Faith Kwaza (@faithkwaza) January 29, 2016
Funny how the M&G article on Mmusi was supposed to be about DA problems but instead has turned into problems facing M&G's integrity.
— Dean Macpherson (@DeanMacpherson) January 29, 2016
I am not a Mmusi supporter or DA for that matter,I just don't believe that Verashni person, i'm still shocked she was appointed editor #M&G
— Outside Tshopsteward (@Mzidlanga) January 29, 2016