New DA leader Mmusi Maimane in his maiden speech in the Eastern Cape was full of hope that a prosperous and united South Africa can emerge.

Maimane was elected new leader of the party on Sunday, taking over from Helen Zille.

Maimane started with a message of hope saying that in a free society it is okay to disagree with one another.

“All of us are animated by the idea of building a better tomorrow. All of us carry the belief that, out of the ashes of Apartheid, a prosperous and united South Africa can emerge. Sometimes we disagree with each other because we care so much about the future we want to build. And that is okay.

“It is healthy for us to engage in robust debate. But, equally, there is no room in this party for those who seek to divide, or those who mobilise on race.

He added “We must challenge each other’s ideas in a constructive manner. For this is how we learn from each other and grow stronger.”

Maimane then talked a little bit about himself. He said like many people living in Gauteng, his parents were migrant labourers who had come to eGoli in search of a better life.

His mother was raised in the Eastern Cape with her parents and six siblings. His father, landless and jobless, came from the former Bophuthatswana in the 1960s to settle in Kagiso on the West Rand.

He added his parents worked hard to give them the opportunities they never had. Maimane went to a state school in Roodeport and did well enough to get into university.

He then revealed not everybody he grew up with has had the same opportunities as me.

He used his cousin as an example, who dropped out and never managed to get his matric adding that as a consequence, he has been lured into a life of drug abuse and criminality. He is also jobless for the past several years.

Maimane used the example because “This is the tragic story of too many young South Africans.

“It is a fact that most young black South Africans continue to be denied access to opportunity, just as their parents were during apartheid.

“This is what we must change if we are to succeed as a nation. As Democrats, we will work tirelessly to create a fairer society.

“A fair society is a more equal society. It is a society where every child, whether they are born in Soweto or Sandton, has the same chance of making a success of their lives. A fair society is also a non-racial society. And I want to make it absolutely clear today that non-racialism does not mean being colour-blind.”

On Apartheid Maimane said “We cannot pretend that it never happened. We cannot ignore the fact that apartheid was a system that defined us by the colour of our skin. It was a system that could put a pencil through your hair. A system that dictated where you could live, where you could work and who you could marry.

“These experiences shaped me, just like they shaped so many young black people of my generation. And that is why I simply don’t agree with those who say they don’t see colour. Because, if you don’t see that I’m black, then you don’t see me.

“This doesn’t mean our skin colour must define us forever. The system of racial classification devised by Hendrik Verwoerd was evil and deplorable, and we cannot stay trapped in that way of thinking.

“We must triumph over the evil of apartheid by building a new bridge into a new future. We must not remain victims of our yesterday, we must believe in tomorrow.”

About the DA Maimane said “Where we govern, we will continue to deliver high quality basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation.

“We will focus on education because too many children still receive an inferior education, and we know that a good education is the foundation of a successful life.

“And, above all, we will push for measures to grow our economy and create jobs.”

“Unemployment in South Africa stands at 36 per cent. Of those who are unemployed, 66 per cent are young people, just like my cousin.

“Democrats, we simply cannot go on like this. As a party we are quick to get angry about the sustained attack on our constitution and our institutions. But we must be equally angry at the insider-outsider economic policies that have trapped too many of our people in poverty for far too long.

“We must structure the economy so that young people have opportunities to start small businesses, an economy where we leverage state owned enterprises as skills incubators by offering apprenticeships.”

Maimane then praised his former superior, Helen Zille saying she hasachieved her objective.

“Her resolute commitment to diversify the party’s leadership, membership and support base was one of the reasons we were able to double our votes in her eight years as leader – from 1.9 million to just over 4 million.

“Helen Zille. Siyabulela!”

To the opposition Maimane said “Our message of hope is more powerful than their message of hate.

“While they are tearing down statues, we will be building schools and creating jobs.While they illegally invade land, we will be implementing successful land reform programmes.

“While they trade on the divisions of the past, we will position the DA as the party of tomorrow. While they play on people’s fears, we will connect with voters on the basis of shared values.

“We must defend the Constitution of the Republic at all costs. We must ensure that everyone is equal before the law.”

Maimane also had a special message for president Jacob Zuma.

“President Zuma, if you are watching, please note: we are still coming for you. Make no mistake Mr President, you will have the day in court you have been asking for.

“You see, Democrats, nobody is above the law. And, equally so, no political party has the divine right to rule this country.”

On next year’s local elections he said “We will retain the City of Cape Town. We can win power in Tshwane, our nation’s capital. We can even win power in Johannesburg, our country’s economic heartland. And, we can win power right here in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“The future is bright if we all work together as a team. And I know that we will emerge from this Congress strong and united.

“I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve as your leader. I will do my best for all of you. And I know that the entire leadership team elected today will do the same, as will our leaders in governments across South Africa. We will serve the people, not the other way around.

“When we leave Port Elizabeth, every step we take will be one step closer to the Union Buildings. We must and we will win power in our lifetime. We will be the next government of this beautiful country.

“Change is coming!”