Maimane says 'nothing off the table' ahead of 2019 elections
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says the door is open to all political parties to discuss a possible coalition government ahead of the 2019 national elections.
Maimane was delivering a speech on the realignment of politics in South Africa at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein.
Maimane says the African National Congress (ANC) is clearly unable to self-correct.
"They have forgotten what it's like to wake up every day without a job and no hope of ever finding one. The ANC is the party that claims to champion the cause of black South Africans. But the reality is, the longer the ANC governs, the more black people will suffer," says Maimane.
The leader of the opposition believes the ANC has become an obstacle to progress.
"We need to start visualising our future without it. We need to start speaking of a vision of South Africa that isn't weighed down by baggage and bled dry by corruption. We need to look towards a post-ANC South Africa."
Maimane says he is currently engaged in talks with other opposition parties to deepen their cooperation.
"I will keep these channels of communication open until we go to the polls in 2019. If our chances of winning the 2019 election can be maximised with a pre-election coalition agreement, then this is something that we need to consider. Nothing is off the table. We are in the 2019 election to win it."