DA: Values and principles document ‘a social contract’ with SA

The DA's head of policy Gwen Ngwenya says the document is one of three discussion documents that will be discussed at the party’s first-ever policy conference.

The party is also set to elect a new leader this year.

John Steenhuisen has been acting as interim leader following Mmusi Maimane's resignation in November.

Ngwenya said the values and principles are important for the party and its relationship with voters

"It is the point of departure for the rest of our policy positions and represents the basis which South Africans should expect all of our conduct to conform to, and which we measure ourselves against.

"Let this be seen as a social contract between the DA and the people of South Africa to deliver on these particular values and principles.

"Mainly it is a reaffirmation of what we have always stood for but going onto a little bit more detail.  We putting upfront our values against which the public can hold us to account and which we hope to measure ourselves against.”

The policy documents cover a range of issues including race, diversity, social market economy and integrity.

"People who identify with each other on this basis should not be squeezed into narrow racial boxes inherited from our segregated past. Non-racialism is, therefore, a commitment, not just to reject racialism and racism, but to fight for the deconstruction of race, and the reconstruction of a non-racial future," the document reads.

However, the document also states that the party does oppose race, gender and other quotas.

"The DA, therefore, opposes race, gender or other quotas. When embraced, diversity acts as a potential bulwark against the uniformity of thought and closed thinking. The DA will strive to maximise the potential value of diversity. The DA unequivocally stands for non-racialism, not multiracialism."

Responding to questions about the ambiguity in the document, Ngwenya said it is only a draft paper.

"The questions in my mind does not reveal any ambiguity. There is no ambiguity. I think its quite certain that anyone who reads this documents it's quite clear and that's the purpose of this, so there is no ambiguity".  

ALSO READ: