Born on the 8 of June 1980 to mother Ethel and father Simon, Maimane grew up in Dobsonville, Soweto, at the height of apartheid’s oppressive political power.

According to The South African, Maimane entered the political fray relatively late in life, joining the DA in 2009 after applying his mind to various intellectual and financial endeavors. Following his extensive educational career, Maimane ran his own management consultancy and lectured at a business school in Johannesburg, before he applied to run as a DA candidate for Johannesburg City Council.

In his chat on OFM's The Joyride, Maimane highlights what he believes to be the major issues faced by South Africans and how, according to him, these issues can be handled and resolved in order for all South Africans to benefit.

In 2011, a confident and aspirational Maimane applied to run as the DA’s candidate for the position of Mayor of Johannesburg. The new kid on the block, Maimane, defeated contender Vasco da Gama to be elected as the DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. He was fast-tracked through its ranks to take control in 2015.

His rapid promotion led to accusations that he was being used by the party’s senior white activists to cover up lack of reform within the party.

In October 2019, Mmusi resigned as leader of the DA. According to News24, Maimane could've made this decision "after losing favour within the party after he started advocating for diversity and race-based policies in the organisation".

In September 2022, Maimane headed back into politics when he launched his political party, Build One South Africa (Bosa).  Around this time, News24 reported that Maimane had said that his new party was different in the vision it offered and the values it upheld. He continued, saying that his party was based on the failures of the current government, which include the load-shedding crisis, unemployment and the high cost of living.