Date: 21/04/2011
Source: The Democratic Alliance
Title: DA: Zille: Address by the leader of the DA, to the people of Seshego Village, in Limpopo


 
Fellow South Africans,
 
In a month from now we will know the outcome of the 2011 local government elections. The results will tell us whether South Africa is moving in the right direction or the wrong direction.

If South Africans go out in their numbers and vote for the same party they have been toyi-toying against, then you know we are moving in the wrong direction. 

But if the results show that more and more people are making a different choice, then you know we are moving in the right direction.

I believe the results of this election are going to surprise many people. I hope that they will shock the ruling party out of its complacency. 

This would be a very good thing. Governments deliver when they are put under pressure to deliver. Why do you think our Football World Cup was such a success? Everything worked because FIFA put us under enormous pressure. We knew that if we did not meet our deadlines, the World Cup would be taken away from us.

It is the same in politics. You will only get access to basic services and job opportunities if you put the governing party in your municipality under pressure. And the only way to do that is to take your vote away when the municipality doesn’t deliver.

Since 1994, the DA has won elections in more and more places. We now govern several major towns and one major city. After this election we hope to govern in even more. In each one of those places, the people used their vote to get rid of corruption and poor service delivery. 

With the DA in government, service delivery has improved. Corruption has been rooted out. There are more job opportunities. DA municipalities deliver more free basic services to more poor people than other municipalities. That is a fact.

It is going to take time before the DA wins a local election here in Polokwane. We have to be realistic about that. But you can still use your vote to send a message to the ANC. By voting for the DA you will put the ANC under pressure to deliver services here where you live.

Perhaps then you will stand a chance of getting electricity here in this informal settlement.

Perhaps then you will get flush toilets, instead of the pit latrines you have to use.

Perhaps then you will get running water for every household instead of having to share two taps between 2,500 families.

Perhaps then you will get your refuse removed.

Use your vote on 18 May to send a signal to the ANC. Use it to show that you won’t tolerate being taken for granted. Use it to shake the ANC out of its complacency.

Remember that every vote for the DA is a vote for delivery. 

So, whatever you do on the 18 May, make sure you go out and vote.

And vote DA.

Because the DA delivers for all!