Cape Town - Delegates attending the Western Cape DA Congress in Goodwood, Cape Town, went wild on Saturday morning when the party’s parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane publicly announced his candidacy for DA leader.
“I have accepted nomination to stand as leader,” Maimane said.
Loud applause followed his announcement, with many delegates on their feet shouting “halala”.
He said it had not been an easy decision to stand to succeed Helen Zille when she steps down in May but believed he had been handed a unique opportunity to seek to restore hope in South Africa’s future.
“It has not been an easy decision. I have thought long and hard about what it means for my young family. And I have had to consider whether the timing is right.
“In the end, I decided to accept this nomination because it is a unique opportunity to restore hope in our nation’s future.”
If he wins, Maimane will be the first black leader of the party and will inherit the challenge of growing its support base in African communities.
Maimane said South Africa needed a non-racial party to committed to fighting poverty and creating jobs.
“Our country’s future depends on the success of the Democratic Alliance,” he said.
“Now, more than ever, South Africa needs a strong non-racial party committed to protecting our constitution and eradicating the legacy of apartheid.
“The DA has come a long way in the last twenty years… We have become the most diverse party in South Africa. And we have shown that we can change peoples’ lives by governing effectively.”
ANA