South Africa's Top Opposition Party Launches Campaign For 2019 General Election - Reports

South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), on Saturday announced start of its campaign for the country's 2019 general election, local media reported.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2018) South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), on Saturday announced start of its campaign for the country's 2019 general election, local media reported.

The party's leader, Mmusi Maimane, delivered a keynote speech in Johannesburg, which focused primarily on immigration, jobs, crime and corruption issues, and also introduced a core election team, the News24.com portal reported.

"The South Africa I see today looks nothing like the vision of the South Africa I saw in 1994. It looks nothing like the dream we all shared. Not even close," the 38-year-old Maimane, who became the party leader in 2015, said, addressing his supporters.

The party also presented its slogan for the election campaign, "One South Africa for all."

In the previous general election in 2014, the Democratic Alliance increased its vote share to 22.2 percent from 16.7 percent five years earlier, and the number of seats in the 400-member National Assembly - to 89 from 67. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) saw its support falling to 62.15 percent in 2014 from 65.9 percent in 2009.

The date of the 2019 general election has not yet been determined, but it must be held within 90 days of the date the National Assembly is dissolved or its term expired. The ongoing term of the National Assembly expires on May 6, 2019.