Category Archives: DA Policy

DA policy news

Protecting South Africa’s Fragile Democracy

This lecture was delivered by Mmusi Maimane on Tuesday 21 June 2016 at the London School of Economics. 

Given the prevailing sentiment towards my country at the moment, let me start out by saying that I have never been more positive about the future of South Africa than I am now.

If you have ever visited South Africa, which I hope you have, you may have been to the Cradle of Humankind just north of Johannesburg, where the oldest skeletons of the human species have been found. The lesson is simple: We have been in South Africa for 3.5 million years, and we will be there for many millennia to come. Don’t misjudge us! We will thrive.

Read it on Election 2016

South Africa has an ANC problem, not a Jacob Zuma problem

The ANC is beyond redemption. In Tuesday’s impeachment debate in the National Assembly, the ANC’s parliamentary caucus voted unanimously to retain Jacob Zuma as the president despite last week’s Constitutional Court ruling that he failed to “uphold, defend and respect the Constitution” during the six-year Nkandla saga.

Read more on Election 2016

Breakfast with Mmusi Maimane

Yesterday Ward 57 had the pleasure to host a breakfast at The Kitchen in Woodstock  for around 30 invited guests who met, chatted with and listened to DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane MP, discuss his thoughts, ideas, and insights about South Africa. In a wide ranging speech the following points stand out:

On the ANC: After 20 years in power its leadership has lost the plot, lacks political will or effective leadership and does not respect the Constitution or the institutions of state which are meant to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.  Preferring rather to subvert them to defend their own entrenched interests.

Opposition role: The DA is in for the long haul, as we understand the importance of democratic principles and the need to protect and uphold them as an effective opposition.  This goes beyond grandstanding and means taking the government to task if necessary on a wide array of issues – education, defence, spending, corruption, Eskom – backed up by research.

Corruption: In the budget R9 billion was raised by increasing taxation – R30 billion alone has been lost with corruption, Government should be looking at corruption, and cutting down on wasteful spending.

Education:  It is the only way for the youth to become employable, youth unemployment is the highest it has ever been and current education policies are failing them miserably.

Continue reading

Power to the People

Stalwarts spent a few hours manning an information table and handing out pamphlets outside Obs Quick Spar in Station Road to bring home the point that Resolving SA’s electricity crisis starts with breaking Eskom’s monopoly.

It is unsustainable for 95% of our electricity to come from Eskom, a state-owned entity characterized by mismanagement. Our economy cannot grow without a stable power supply. It is estimated that 10% of potential economic growth totalling R300 billion has been lost since 2008 due to electricity supply constraints.

Know your DA – 2

The truth about the DA
The DA fought against apartheid and now the DA is working to fix the wrongs of apartheid. Some people don’t want you to know this. You deserve to know the truth.

The DA supports BEE
Everybody who suffered under apartheid must benefit from BEE, not just the friends and family of politicians. The DA’s BEE will create jobs, not billionaires.

The DA supports Social Grants
We will never take away your social grant. The DA’s social grants will lift people out of poverty and into jobs.

The DA supports Land Reform
It is wrong that black people were denied access to land under apartheid. The DA will speed up land reform and give emergent farmers the support they need to be successful.

Read more about Know Your DA Phase 2