Fearless anti-apartheid journalist, the world's greatest mayor... and South Africa's first female president? We chatted to Helen Zille about the re-launch of the DA and discovered why Jacob Zuma refuses to debate the formidable leader of the opposition.

Renowned for her no-nonsense attitude and her refusal to be intimidated, tough-talking Zille has all the answers on the country's most pressing problems — crime, the economy and a defunct electoral system.

The shift at the re-launch from an 'opposition' to 'governing' party implies that the DA believes that it can beat the ANC. Is South Africa ready for such a change?

Yes, the change has already begun: the ANC has split and the opposition is beginning to coalesce around common core values.

This process of realignment started in 2006 when the DA emerged as the largest party in Cape Town and managed to come to power in a six party coalition. The ANC is now in opposition to coalition governments in several other towns around the country.

What this means is that the ANC is no longer guaranteed a majority in every province. Coalition governments are the way of the future. In the 2009 election, the DA can take power from the ANC in the Western Cape — either alone or in coalition with other parties — and perhaps in one or two other provinces.

The DA has a proven track record of successful government in Cape Town and other municipalities. We provide corruption-free government and excellent service delivery. If we can demonstrate this in provincial government after the 2009 election, by the time the 2011 local government elections are upon us, the political realignment will be well advanced. The DA will be able to win power in South Africa’s major cities.

By the next general election in 2014, a new political entity will be a pillar of the political landscape, with real prospects of winning the national election.

'Policy' seems to be something that is largely absent from South African political debate. How does the DA plan to get its policies across to the people?

There is a very clear policy choice for South Africans. It is between the DA's open opportunity-driven society for all and the ANC's closed, patronage-driven society for some. Clear policy alternatives for South Africans have never been more available, or more stark. In the open, opportunity society, citizens are equipped with the tools they need to exercise their freedom, take advantage of their opportunities, and develop their full potential.

We are busy rolling out a package of carefully costed and mutually reinforcing policies that give practical expression to our vision. We rely heavily on the media to convey these policies. Unfortunately, many political journalists do not take the trouble to familiarise themselves with them, and it is generally they who assert that there is no viable alternative to the ANC.

In terms of a campaign strategy, what does the DA plan to do differently? How do you plan to attract new voters?

The way we communicate our offer will be different. We will harness new technology to create a more direct link with all South Africans. For example, in the run-up to the Independent Electoral Commission's voter registration drive on 8 and 9 November, we posted videos of political messages on sites such as myvideo.com and zoopy.com. Our contributetochange.co.za website has already attracted over 2000 volunteers.

There is a perception that the DA is a white/middle class party. Do you intend to challenge this perception and, if so, how?

This is a misperception that has been created by the ANC, which uses race to mobilise political support. The DA is not a 'white' party: in fact, our leadership and our membership are far more diverse than the ANC's, which is largely uni-racial. Our membership and support base are far more non-racial than the ANC's.

In his most recent political opinion survey, Professor Lawrence Schlemmer concluded that the DA is the most multi-racial party South Africa has ever had. The DA cherishes diversity, because we believe that it adds strength, insight and value to each decision we make and every initiative we take. We are committed to fielding candidates in the 2009 election who are more reflective of our rich racial, linguistic and cultural heritage.

It is also a fallacy that the DA is a "middle class party": our policies are aimed at creating opportunities for the poor. One of our policy proposals, for example, is the introduction of a Basic Income Grant.

The new DA logo is quite similar to that of Barack Obama. Was this intentional? Do you intend to run a similar campaign?

No, it was not intentional, although it is true that what we are tying to do with our new approach is to draw on the things that Obama did in his campaign — namely, to show that racial divisions can be transcended and that race does not have to be a factor in determining political choice.

Obama's victory was a triumph of a society which strives to ensure that all citizens have the opportunities they need to take responsibility for their lives, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth, and become the best they can be. And that is precisely the vision that animates the DA.

Our new logo reflects our new offer. It is a morning sun rising over the rainbow nation. The sun represents our optimism — our positive outlook for what South Africa could be — and the rainbow symbolises the diversity of South African people. The logo illustrates the fact that we are one diverse nation united, working together for one future.

On page two: Helen Zille tackles the economy, promises a safer South Africa and shares her thoughts on Cope.