An ordinary life should not be a privilege

The following is an extract of the speech delivered by DA Leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis today at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg.

Please find the Manifesto PDF here.

Please find the full speech text here.

Please find photographs of the keynote address here and here.

South Africans have heard enough promises. What is needed now is a government that works.

So today, the Democratic Alliance Manifesto makes you three clear guarantees.

First: a government you can trust.

Under the DA, municipal work will go to people who can do the work — not people with political connections.

We will end cadre deployment where we come into government. We will make procurement transparent. We will protect every rand of public money. And when officials steal, waste money or fail through gross negligence, there will be consequences.

Second: services you can rely on.

Every rand collected for water will be protected for water. Every rand collected for electricity will be protected for electricity.

Your money will go into fixing pipes, maintaining substations, replacing cables and keeping the lights on — not into political projects or corrupt contracts.

This is called “ring-fencing” and the DA will implement it.

In this Manifesto the DA also commits to radically improve service delivery by allowing private companies to deliver services, under strict contracts.

There will be transparent competition for municipal contracts, under the DA, while municipalities will retain control over policy, price, and performance.

Third: a community where you can get ahead.

We will cut red tape for businesses and entrepreneurs. We will simplify permits and create safe, serviced spaces for informal traders.

And we will fight to bring policing closer to communities, with capable municipal police able to investigate crime and help turn arrests into convictions.

Because government should not make your life harder. It should make it possible for you to build a better one.

This is Working for All.

It means water flowing because your money is put back into the water system.

It means electricity working because your money is reinvested in the grid.

It means streets that are safe, clean and lit.

It means your rubbish is collected, your potholes are fixed and your public spaces are maintained.

It means honest, capable people running your municipality.

It means less red tape, more investment, more businesses and more jobs.

And we know this can be done. DA governments are already doing it. And we will do it in dozens more, after this election.

So on November 4th, vote for a government that works in your town or city.

Vote for your taps to run.
Vote for your streetlights to shine.
Vote for safer communities.
Vote for honest, capable government.

Vote DA