The DA has boasted that it is no longer an opposition party after it signed an agreement to form part of the government of national unity.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party will throw its weight behind Cyril Ramaphosa to continue serving as the president of the country.
He was speaking during a live broadcast on Friday afternoon.
“We will be supporting President Ramaphosa in his election as president of the Republic of South Africa as the leader of the largest party in the government of national unity,” Steenhuisen said.
“He will be uncontested from our side, and we will be throwing our support behind him as the president of the republic.”
He said unity and collaboration would be at the forefront as they co-govern South Africa, and he claimed it would be out of love for the citizens and all who voted for the DA.
“The DA’s signature contribution to this government of national unity will come in the form of our unique track record of service delivery, job creation, and our commitment to clean and accountable governance,” he said.
He said his party would bring the expertise already seen in other places where it governs.
The new normal
He said the DA understands that multi-party governance would be the new normal under the existing electoral system and that it would need to adapt to a radically different environment.
“Through the votes, the people have made it very clear that they do not want any one party to dominate our society.
“The people have also told us that the time for finger-pointing is over and that a new politics of collaboration and problem-solving has arrived.
“Make no mistake about it; this is not the end of the process, and the road ahead will not be an easy one.
“In this new multi-party context, the constitution’s two-week deadline for the formation of a government is simply insufficient.”
He said the parties in the government of national unity have introduced phases to tackle the negotiations and claimed that the first phase has been completed.
He said the second phase, which will only come after the appointment of a president, will develop a detailed policy agenda.
Collaboration and maturity
According to Steenhuisen, it should not be ignored that the country still suffers from high unemployment and crime rates, while logistics and infrastructure are also on the decline.
It will take collaboration and maturity, among others, to ensure that the country successfully tackles the challenges it has faced along the years, he said, emphasising that the DA will be there every step of the way.
“We are committed to contributing, in any or all ways that we can, to rescue South Africa from the path of decline and make sure that this new chapter is the best one yet for our new nation.
“Even as we acknowledge that the road ahead will be difficult, we also know that today South Africa is a better country than it was yesterday.”
