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The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Federal Council sat this weekend in eThekwini to discuss election preparation and readiness for the 2016 Local Government Elections on 3 August 2016.

This year’s election is the most important since the dawn of our democracy in 1994. South Africans face a choice: either more of the same broken promises and joblessness under the ANC; or real and positive change that will help move our country forward again. This is the change the DA will bring if we are elected to govern on 3 August 2016.

This past week has shown that the stakes have never been higher. ANC factionalism has brought violence and put peoples’ lives in danger. For the ANC, government is about patronage and cronyism. It is about putting Zuma’s pals in high places so that he can be protected and the connected elite can benefit. 

The DA is the only party that can stop this gravy train and ensure that our people come first again. We are now running the biggest election campaign in the history of the party, in every corner of the country. We have the momentum and we can win!

The DA can win on 3 August 2016

The DA's Federal Council is pleased to announce that our national election campaign is in full swing, and gaining momentum in every strategic municipality we are challenging to win across the country.

The DA has held thousands of events each week across the country, in which members of Parliament, Mayoral Candidates, Provincial Leaders, aspirant candidates, Constituency Heads and activists are engaging with South Africans and taking our election promise of creating jobs, stopping corruption and delivering better services to every door in every community.

We have wasted no time in getting into gear, led by our Mayoral Candidates in the battleground Metros who have spent close on 1000 days on the campaign trail thus far, taking the DA’s offer to all South Africans.

Our operation is the biggest and most comprehensive we have ever had in the history of the party. We have as of today flighted well over 1 million posters in every corner of South Africa – from Athlone to Zandspruit – and we have also distributed in excess of 5 million leaflets with millions more to come before 3 August.

We have already launched several television and radio adverts which have aired across the country. Our radio adverts, like our posters, are in all 11 official languages. We remain the only party in the country that has done so. We are now reaching people in every single community across the country with our offer of change that will move our country forward again.

DA-run governments must do more

The DA has noted and welcomed a report compiled by research and advocacy group Good Governance Africa (GGA), which shows that DA governments are the best run in the country. The report found that 9 out of the 10 best run municipalities in the country were DA-run, whereas the 10 worst municipalities across the country were all ANC run. The choice has never been clearer for the people of South Africa.

Federal Council also welcomed that 21 of the 25 DA run municipalities received clean audits in the last financial year. Where we govern, we are making real and measurable progress.

However, we acknowledge and know that we can do more. And we will do more. Earlier this month, I called on all DA-run municipalities to do more to improve the lives of South Africans that live in DA-run communities. Still today, the lives of black, coloured and Indian South Africans suffer the ills of the legacy of Apartheid and are still largely left out of the economy.

As the Leader of the Democratic Alliance, I have reiterated this call to all DA-run governments. We have done so much, but we need to do so much more.

DA urges open debate with “more of the same” ANC Mayoral Candidates

The ANC’s eventual announcement of its Mayoral Candidates – delayed by over six months by President Jacob Zuma – presents the predictable: a conglomeration of Zuma's pals who will focus on benefiting the ANC-connected elite at the expense of the poor.

These Mayoral Candidates cannot bring the change that South Africa needs to move forward again. They offer more of the same: more corruption, deteriorating service delivery and increasing joblessness. The only job they care about is that of Jacob Zuma.

The DA again challenges the ANC’s Mayoral Candidates to a debate as soon as possible so that Zuma’s pals can allow themselves to be scrutinised openly.

Zuma’s silence on ANC violence is shameful

The DA condemns ANC coordinated violence in Tshwane following the imposition of Zuma’s friend, Thoko Didiza. This factional war demonstrates yet again just how much the ANC has changed. The ANC is at war with itself, putting the lives of people in danger. They should be ashamed of the way they have allowed, and responded to, this serious situation.

It is equally condemnable that Jacob Zuma has still remained silent, nearly a full week after the violence erupted. While people have died, and public property destroyed, the President has not said a single word. This is not a man who can be trusted by South Africans to look after their best interests.

The DA again calls for Jacob Zuma to come out of hiding and speak out against the mess his party has created, by imposing a Zuma ally, Thoko Didiza, in Tshwane.

Jacob Zuma must have his day in court

The DA welcomes the decision by the North Gauteng High Court to dismiss the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and President Jacob Zuma’s application for leave to appeal in the matter relating to the 783 charges of corruption levelled against President Zuma.

Since 2009, President Zuma has ducked and dived, trying his utmost to evade the 783 charges of corruption against him, that were erroneously dropped. He has done this using public money that could have rather been spent on creating job opportunities and delivering better services.

The reality is that Jacob Zuma is fast running out of delaying tactics, and although he may petition the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) and the Constitutional Court in this matter, this move – like all the rest - is likely to be unsuccessful.

The time has come for Zuma to defend himself in court. Anything less would be an attack on the principle of the rule of law, and the Constitution in which it is enshrined.

DA condemns racism

The DA condemns in the strongest terms possible the latest incidents of racism. This conduct has no place in our democracy.

Earlier this week, a KwaZulu-Natal resident and guesthouse owner named André Slade, stated that his guesthouse does not “accommodate blacks or government employees any longer”, and that he believes in segregating people by race.

This matter involves me personally, as Mr Slade has previously referred to me as a “beast” and “little bastard” in his online blog, revealing his racism in no uncertain terms. I therefore welcome the decision by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate this case of racism. Racism must, and will fall in our lifetime.

The fight against racism requires all South Africans – Black, White, Coloured and Indian – to unite in condemning the attitudes and actions of a few who seek to divide us. 

The DA remains the only Party engaged in the project of building a reconciled and fair South Africa, and we will not allow racists to reverse the progress made in this regard.

Z-Exit

The outcome of the ‘Brexit’ referendum has serious implications for the South African economy. The DA is concerned that this will mean South Africa will edge closer to a recession, and more jobs will be lost. With 8.9 million people unemployed, this risk must be treated seriously by the South African government.

The reality, however, is that the situation is made worse by an economy which is being bogged down by Jacob Zuma’s lack of leadership, policy indecision and corruption. When we should be doing everything possible to reassure investors, our ambassador-in-chief is our main liability.

During these difficult economic times, the best thing for our economy, and for our chief aim of creating jobs, would be for the exit of Jacob Zuma.

The Choice

Today we will launch our latest TV advert (attached here), which will air from tomorrow. The advert highlights the choice that South Africans face this election: between 5 more years of corruption, nepotism, joblessness and deteriorating service delivery; or the DA change that will move South Africa forward again. This is the change that brings about job creation, delivers better services, and stops corruption.

2016 will be remembered as the most important year in the democratic history of South Africa. While we have made progress since 1994, the ANC has now put our country on the wrong path. We now have the opportunity to change this – and ensure that we move in the right direction again. The direction that Nelson Mandela dreamed of.

Issued by DA