Learn from mistakes, says Helen Zille

Cape Town. 010612. Western Cape Premier Helen Zille presents her response to the Public Protector's report on tender fraud in the Western Cape. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Bianca

Cape Town. 010612. Western Cape Premier Helen Zille presents her response to the Public Protector's report on tender fraud in the Western Cape. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Bianca

Published Nov 24, 2012

Share

The only people who never make mistakes are those who are too afraid to take risks, DA leader Helen Zille on Saturday.

“If we learn from our mistakes, we create new opportunities,” she told delegates at the party's federal congress in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

“The same applies to a political party. Our goal is to become the government of South Africa so that everyone has freedom they can use to build a better life.”

She was confident that the Democratic Alliance would get there sooner than many people thought.

“It will not be easy. We respect the power of past loyalties. We understand how much we owe to those who struggled for our freedom... that is why we say 'honour your past but own your future'.”

Zille said the opposition was determined to break the barriers that still divided South Africans.

She urged delegates to earn people's trust rather than to assume it or demand it.

She said the DA was not a party for racists.

“It is not a party for sexists, xenophobes, or homophobes,” she said.

“And it is not a white party or a black party or a brown party... it is a South African party for all people united in the pursuit for a better life for everyone.” -Sapa

Related Topics: