DA big guns launch election manifesto
"Viva DA! Viva Helen Zille! Together for change, together for jobs!" were the words chanted by large groups of people
POLOKWANE – “Viva DA! Viva Helen Zille! Together for change, together for jobs!” were the words chanted by large groups of people at the overcrowded Polokwane Show Grounds at the launch of the DA election manifesto on Sunday.
DA senior member in Gauteng, Mmusi Maimane, MP, Dr Wilmot James, Limpopo premier candidate, Langa Bodlani, Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, DA parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko and federal DA leader, Helen Zille were the speakers of the day, and providing entertainment were Tiro Moshosho and Freshly Ground.
The DA’s message, delivered by each speaker, was clear: “Enough is enough. Our destiny is in our hands.”
Deputy federal chairperson, Makashule Gana said he was a proud child of South Africa. “I believe change is possible, but the change of eliminating corruption and the provision of long-term permanent jobs is a change that only the DA can bring.”
The message on federal youth leader, Mbali Ntuli’s lips was that it was time for the young people of the country to take South Africa forward, and in so doing, prove themselves. Her urgent request was “to make 2014 our year, the year for the youth”.
The DA’s aim is clearly set out in their manifesto:
The DA will stand together for change and will:
• Cut corruption.
• Speed up service delivery.
• Make MPs more accountable.
• Make communities safer.
• Fight gangsterism and drugs.
• Provide quality, affordable healthcare.
• Ensure social grants lift people out of poverty.
• Make land reform work.
The DA will also stand together for jobs and provide the following:
• Quality education.
• Increase student funding.
• Create one million internships.
• Provide seven million EPWP opportunities.
• Cut red tape and support small business.
• Improve black economic empowerment.
• Break up inefficient state monopolies.
• Invest in infrastructure.
Bodlani, who is the DA’s premier candidate had hope for the people of South Africa. “Village by village, ward by ward, municipality by municipality, the DA will win,” he said.
Looking out over the sea of faces, Mazibuko remarked: “This is a moment I will remember forever, looking over a wave of change. Hierdie blou golf gaan die trappe van Nkandla tref. If you steal from the people, the DA will come for you.”
Zille had the crowd on their feet applauding and cheering as she delivered her speech filled with promises and backing each one with the difference and improvement made where the DA was governing, ending off her speech with a simple request: “Give us the chance to make South Africa a better place. A chance to get our country back. Stand with the DA for the South Africa Madiba worked and died for”.
Mazibuko ended the the day with these words: “The small ripple that started in Cape Town and is forming a flooding wave in Polokwane is a sign of hope. Hope that there will be more clean governance, more permanent jobs, better education for children and mostly, that the poor will be uplifted”.
