Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga at Tshwane City Chambers, 30 August 2018, during the sitting of the council. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive said this past weekend it reviewed the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections, in particular its showing at the Gauteng polls, and it was confident it would win the province over from the governing African National Conference (ANC).
In a statement on Monday, chairperson James Selfe said: “We remain convinced that the ANC’s dismal record of empty promises, endemic fraud, and failed delivery means that we can form the basis of an alternative government that puts the people first after the forthcoming elections.”
Selfe said the federal executive fully backed and was “deeply appreciative of Solly Msimanga’s commitment to the people of Gauteng, which was so evidenced by the personal sacrifice he has made in announcing his resignation as the mayor of Tshwane”.
“Solly is very clear – both Tshwane and the city of Johannesburg can only be fully turned around if the DA governs the entire province.
“Msimanga will now be freed up to focus his full energy on bringing change to the province and will prioritise fighting corruption; bringing about an honest and professional police service; fighting the scourge of drug abuse; providing fair access to jobs and ensuring that we never have a repeat of the deep injustice that was the Life Esidimeni tragic deaths.
“The federal executive has full confidence in Msimanga as our premier candidate. The ANC’s transparent attack on Msimanga is the clearest sign yet that they are rightly concerned about losing the province.”
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