New kid on the block RISE Mzansi, led by Songezo Zibi, has officially thrown its hat in the ring to contest the national and provincial elections.

At the launch of its election posters, in Soweto, on Tuesday, Zibi said it had submitted the required signatures, and more, to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to contest the ballots and will soon finalise its candidate list.

The party, which recently launched its election manifesto, said South Africa needed new leaders for lasting change.

“The good news is that we live in a democratic and constitutional country, which says that governments change when the people decide so. Those who hold temporary political power label this as ‘regime change’ in an attempt to undermine the will of the people. We, the people of South Africa, are saying we need new leaders! South Africa needs new leaders who are capable and care about building a safe, prosperous, equal, and united country, where every citizen is able to reap the rewards of our democracy by living a happy and dignified life,” Zibi said.

He said South Africa was in crisis and pointed out that RISE Mzansi’s manifesto was a blueprint for change.

He also urged RISE Mzansi Gauteng Premier candidate Vuyiswa Ramokgopa to ready her acceptance speech, while revealing that Premier candidates for KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape would be announced next week.

“We can remove the ANC in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, and we can do the same to the DA in the Western Cape. We are ready to send the best leaders to Parliament and form part of a national government, which will see the ANC occupying the opposition benches. For the first time since 1994, South Africans have a credible political alternative in RISE Mzansi, which places people and their dignity at the centre of its politics,” Zibi said.