Recently ousted Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse on Monday confirmed she will contest for the party leadership position against John Steenhuisen at the DA’s federal congress in April.
Phalatse, who was removed as mayor of the country’s largest metro last Friday, said her party needs a dynamic leader who is familiar with the concept of servant leadership.
“I also believe that my many years of experience as a technocrat in government and as a politician have sufficiently prepared me for the position of DA federal leader,” she said.
“Leading a huge multiparty coalition government in the City of Johannesburg, which is the economic hub of the country and continent, is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, I am the only candidate for this position who has had this rewarding experience.”
The former mayor, who announced her decision to stand at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto on Monday, said she recognises the perception that her party is indifferent to the plight of black people.
“The DA needs to develop a plan of action to rescue SA from imminent implosion. However, it must first be relatable, representative of all our communities and be truly diverse in its leadership.
“Yet, contrary to the narrative mostly pushed and peddled by our political opponents, we are a party that recognises the injustices of the past and that honours those, like Hector, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we celebrate.”
Phalatse said the DA she believes in is a party for all South Africans, “black and white, rich or poor, urban or rural”.
“We are unwavering in our belief that SA would not be the constitutional democracy which is held in high regard as a shining beacon of hope within the global family of nations if it were not for the selfless struggles of those who came before us.
“We are here to make a commitment to the people of Soweto, Alexandra, Seshego, Thohoyandou, Mabopane, Gugulethu, uMlazi, Mdantsane, Mhluzi, Mkhuhlu, Mahikeng and all other parts of our beautiful country that the DA we seek to construct is indeed a party for all South Africans.”
She said the DA she wants is a party whose leadership reflects the diversity of the nation and listens to all citizens as equals.
As the second-largest political party in the country, she said the DA is well positioned to become that alternative for South Africans from all backgrounds.
“To achieve this strategic objective, the DA needs to develop a plan of action to rescue SA from imminent implosion. However, it must first be relatable, representative of all our communities and truly diverse in its leadership.
“It must be relevant and be prepared to lead difficult conversations in our society, including the polarising issues of race and land reform.”
Phalatse addressed claims that there is an elite group that makes decisions on the party’s behalf.
“The DA I believe in must stay true to its founding principle of liberalism, which includes promoting and encouraging free speech, even within its own internal structures and platforms.
“It must dispel the perception that there is a powerful cabal or puppet masters within the party that control and pull the strings behind the scenes.”
Phalatse added the DA she believes in must genuinely promote meritocracy over tokenism in its selection processes.
Steenhuisen told the Sunday Times that the party tried to save Phalatse as Joburg mayor but “the price was too high to pay”.
The DA refused demands from the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which led to Phalatse being voted out.
“There is no bad blood between Mpho Phalatse and the DA. This is ActionSA attempting to drive a wedge between Mpho and the DA.
“The only party that let Mpho Phalatse down were ActionSA, because all of the coalition partners agreed that they would vote for her in the first round of balloting [on Friday].
“ActionSA broke away from Mpho and instead voted for Funzi Ngobeni, who they put up as their candidate, the only coalition partner to do so. They abandoned mayor Phalatse.”
Listen: Mpho Phalatse says John Steenhuisen does not connect with ‘the masses’
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