SOLLY Msimanga is well aware that the journey to the 2024 elections won't be easy, but he has assured his delegates that he is armed and ready.
Msimanga has been re-elected as the DA leader in Gauteng after beating Nkhumeni Ramulifho in the poll on Saturday, 12 August.
Msimanga who stood confidently before delegates that gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni said it was time for the party to stand together and eliminate competition among each other.
"Most of you are wearing Solly Msimanga T-shirts, most of you are wearing Nkhumeni Ramulifho T-shirts, but that ends today. Because tomorrow what we are wearing are DA T-shirts because we are all united in ensuring that 2024 is something that becomes a reality.
"We are not just called a democratic party for no reason but we practice that. Democrats, the battle is never internal but external. We need to focus our weapons and energy on the opponent which is ahead of us.
"We will lose great opportunity if we remain internally focused and allow for divisions to creep in the democratic alliances," he said as Ramulifho stood besides him after being called to the stage.
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Fred Nel was elected as the DA chairperson in the province, while Posigo Mthimunye was elected as deputy chairperson.
In his acceptance speech, Msimanaga sent Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi packing ahead of the 2024 elections.
"Thank you very much for giving us the mandate to take us to what will be a victorious elections in 2024. We promise that this plane will land safely in 2024 in the legislature when we say to Panyaza Lesufi pack your bags and go," Msimanga confidently said.
Msimanga previously served as the DA Gauteng spokesman for sports, arts and culture recreation, (SRAC) in the Provincial Legislature as well as the education and economic development portfolio committees from 2014 until the municipal elections in August 2016 when he was elected executive mayor of the City of Tshwane unopposed.
The re-elected DA Gauteng leader has plans of attending to the province's demands which include quality services, improved education for all pupils, fairness of jobs, safety of women and an end to infrustratucture collapse
But he said he wouldn't be able to do it alone and urged the party to stand together in unity.
