Analyst: Mmusi Maimane has had to eat humble pie
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes the Democratic Alliance (DA) has yielded to the whims of Helen Zille.
The party reached an agreement with its former leader, following the controversy surrounding her tweets about colonialism.
Mathegka says: "She is now vulnerable as the premier. If the motion of no confidence is staged against her, one wonders whether the party will enthusiastically defend her having removed her from party activities."
He believes Maimane is the one who has had to eat humble pie during this saga.
During a joint press briefing on Monday, Zille apologised for her tweets.
She landed herself in hot water after tweeting that colonialism was not all bad.
Maimane announced Zille would step down from all DA decision-making structures, but remain premier of the Western Cape.
"There is no room in this party for those who seek to divide. Zille realises her tweet was offensive to black South Africans. She is now prepared to apologise which I requested she do."