Bokamoso – means “The Future”

DA is the party of the future. The true measure of a political party is how it responds to challenges. The DA cannot exercise complete control over how public representatives conduct themselves. No political party can. But we can respond by putting the public interest ahead of party interests and this is what we will do. The DA owes its loyalty, above all else, to the voters. We are the most diverse and dynamic party, and the only one to have grown in every election since 1994. The DA Received 22.2% of the votes in the National Assembly elections in 2014, and 26.9% in the 2016 Local Government Elections. But, more importantly, we are the only party with a credible, proven plan to create real jobs. Our dream for South Africa is of One Nation with One Future built on Freedom, Fairness and Opportunity for All, living together under the Constitution in peace, security and prosperity, with opportunity and recognition for all the rainbow people. Together we can rekindle the dream of 1994.

Our values as a party only really count when they are put to the test. Values are easy when everyone agrees and when they are easily applied. But they are hard when the party faces a painful test. Despite the difficulty, the DA will remain true to its values, come what may. The laziest analysis in this regard comes from those who claim the DA is no different to the ANC now that we’ve also had a big, public scandal. The differences should be plain to all.

The ANC has (over and above all its other sins) consistently acted to ignore the corruption that is putrefying it from the inside, protecting the guilty and sweeping evidence and information under the carpet. This has resulted in a party that is literally split down the middle, and a state that is captured by private rent seekers.

• Mmusi Maimane - Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance | Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance