Text of the letter from DA Parliamentary Leader, Mmusi Maimane, to the party's public representatives, April 18 2015

18 April 2015

Dear Democrat

I am writing to let you know that I have accepted nomination to stand as the Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance.

It has not been an easy decision. I have thought long and hard about what it means for my young family. And I have had to consider whether the timing is right.

In the end, I decided to accept this nomination because it is a unique opportunity to restore hope in our nation’s future.

Our country’s future depends on the success of the Democratic Alliance.

We have kept democracy in South Africa alive, but our hard-won constitution is in peril. We have seen progress in the delivery of services, but too many people remain in poverty. We have seen economic growth rates rise, and then fall, resulting in unprecedented levels of youth unemployment.

Now, more than ever, South Africa needs a strong non-racial party committed to protecting our constitution and eradicating the legacy of apartheid.

The DA has come a long way in the last twenty years. We have risen to become the official opposition. We have become the most diverse party in South Africa. And we have shown that we can change peoples’ lives by governing effectively.

Our task now is to take the DA to the next level. We need to build on the successes of those who went before us by becoming a party that can challenge for power on the national stage.

This means reaching out to the millions of South Africans who agree with our values, but don’t yet vote for us. It means building bridges between people who were historically divided. It means restoring hope in the potential of our nation.

This is my offer to you: a stronger DA for a better South Africa. Together, we can grow and we can win.

Yours in democracy,

Mmusi Maimane