STATEMENT BY LINDIWE MAZIBUKO MONDAY, 13 APRIL 2015
Helen Zille has led the Democratic Alliance (DA) with courage and distinction over the past 8 years. Under her leadership our support has grown steadily from an Official Opposition commanding just 12% of the national vote to a force in South African politics, which now enjoys the support of nearly one in every four voters.
She has achieved this under often unbearably strenuous circumstances, and all while leading two of the most successful regional governments in South Africa - the City of Cape Town, and since 2009, the Western Cape Provincial Government. For her extraordinary work leading South Africa's biggest opposition party, Helen must be congratulated.
Over the past 24 hours there has been some speculation as to whether I will be returning from the United States to make myself available as a candidate for DA Leader at our party's Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth next month.
I wish to clarify that I will not be making myself available for election to any leadership post at the DA's 2015 congress. Rather, I will be watching and supporting my friends, colleagues and fellow-‐democrats from across the Atlantic.
I remain deeply and fundamentally committed to my country, South Africa, and to a life of public service. I believe that I have much to contribute to the project of building a better country for all our people, and I remain committed to the Democratic Alliance as the only political organisation that can lead South Africa to a prosperous future.
When the time is right, I will make myself available for whichever position I believe will enable me to best make a contribution towards building a better South Africa. That time, however, is not now.
I would like to wish the candidate or candidates well in the upcoming leadership campaign and election.
I also wish to extend my deepest thanks to my supporters both inside the DA and in the broader South Africa. Your warm messages and good wishes have given me strength and encouragement over the past year. I look forward to working with you in the future.
[NOTE TO EDITORS: Please note that I will be unavailable for interviews at this time. Thank you for your understanding.]
Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko, April 13 2015
