The walk towards reconciliation is the walk towards putting South Africa first
16 December 2015
South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation gives us an opportunity to reflect on our journey towards an united, socially just and cohesive country, where our differences do not tear us a part, but instead it is our common humanity and Ubuntu that bring us together.
The DA is working hard to build a better South Africa, where we are reconciled as South Africans working towards a better tomorrow built on the foundations of Freedom, Fairness and Opportunity.
As the DA, we are working for the prosperity and unity of our people, to ensure that we stand and walk together as One Nation with One Future.
Part of building a reconciled nation rests on ensuring that we bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots, the insiders and the outsiders. This can be done by inter alia building an education system that prepares our youth to take an active part in a growing economy, and by building a growing economy that drives job creation. Unfortunately, the events of the past week have greatly damaged our prospects as a nation. Now more than ever, we need the requisite leadership in our country that puts South Africa and its people first.
To this end, over the course of the next few weeks and months, I and my colleagues at the DA will be meeting with South Africans from all sectors – business, civil society and other – to intensify our movement for change that puts South Africa first. It is high time that we as South Africans put petty divisions behind us and unite around the goal of working towards a better future, founded on reconciliation and redress.
The Preamble to our great Constitution charges us to “Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”.
As the only party that respects and upholds the supremacy of the Constitution, it is our mission to do all we can to make a reality the vision of our country it calls on us to build.
On behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA), I would like to wish all South Africans, here and abroad, a reflective and beautiful Day of Reconciliation.
Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA leader, 16 December 2015
