Date: 29/12/2008

Source: Democratic Alliance

Title: DA: Zille: Press Statement - New Year's message from the Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille

New Year's message

The Democratic Alliance wishes all South Africans a peaceful and prosperous new year.

As we enter 2009, South Africans should recognize that the year ahead will be crucial for the development of our democracy. We are on the threshold of an election that offers us the chance to show we are maturing as a democracy. All citizens have a responsibility to register, to vote, and to ensure that the election is marked by tolerance and respect for the right to hold an opposing point of view.

We must also make the effort to understand the real choices we face for our shared future, and avoid the racial slurs that often obscure the issues and seek to take us back to a bitter, divided past.

Above all, we have the chance to prove to ourselves, and to the rest of the world, that we will not go down the disastrous road that led to the destruction of Zimbabwe. This is a country that lost is way when its voters effectively entrenched a one-party dominant state through the ballot box. The consequences of power abuse, corruption and criminalization of government were inevitable - the result of too much power entrenched in too few hands.

South Africans have the chance to prevent power abuse by balancing our democracy and ensuring a strong, effective opposition. The DA is determined to continue its democratic role in offering a clear choice to all people to build one nation, with one future. We will give effect to this commitment with renewed energy and effort in 2009.