Resignation of South Africa’s opposition leader spells trouble for future of non-racial party politics

On a continent where political parties have mostly either been anti-colonial liberation movements or vehicles created to propel their leaders to power, South Africa’s Democratic Alliance has been an exception.

It is one of the few to promote a liberal agenda that espouses economic growth and reform as the best way to redress apartheid’s legacy of gross inequality.

Yet, after the resignation of its two most prominent black leaders this week, the future of South Africa’s main opposition party has been thrown into doubt. 

First to go was Herman Mashaba, the DA’s mayor of Johannesburg, who quit in protest over the elevation of Helen Zille, a white anti-apartheid campaigner, to a senior post. Mrs…