Dinner with Helen Zille
Zaras Café was packed on Wednesday night for the visit of the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Helen Zille, to Ballito.
Zille spoke passionately on the party’s goal to bring the ANC under 50% in Gauteng and to gain 30% of the vote nationally.
“This is what we believe to be the tipping point in SA’s politics.”
“I know this is a stretch target but we are determined to build a new majority.”
“We are fighting hard to protect the institutions of our democracy, but we do not fight on a level playing field,”she said, referring to the millions the ruling party has at its disposal for their election campaign.
However Zille said she believed the ANC was falling apart and the current trend would eventually lead to the complete realignment of South African politics.
While she acknowledged the country was unlikely to undergo a leadership change in the next elections, she said they planned to govern, “one ward at a time”.
Guests were given the opportunity to question Zille on a number of topics, from black economic empowerment to land reform and her thoughts on the “poo politics”.
The DA leader said the ANC had actually done her party a favour with the throwing excrement escapades, bringing the country’s attention to service delivery in Cape Town.
Ballito resident Ray Liech asked Zille for her opinion on land reform and whether she thought SA would go the same way as Zimbabwe.
Zille said land reform was nessesary but “we have to do it in a way that promotes productivity and respects land ownership.”
“As much as 30% of SA’s most fertile land is not productive, this needs to change.”
Ward 22 Cllr Ann McDonnell thanked the guests for their support and the many sponsors and businesses that made the evening possible.
“The funds raised on Wednesday evening through generous sponsors will be put to good use, propelling us toward the 30% tipping point needed to make inroads into all communities in the 2014 elections,” said McDonnell.
