‘Blue machine in motion’: DA’s ‘solutions-driven’ manifesto in a nutshell

The Democratic Alliance (DA) painted Pretoria blue as members of the opposition party set out on a march from Church Square to the Union Buildings for its 2024 manifesto launch on Saturday morning, 17 February.

Reminiscent of Hong Kong’s “Umbrella Revolution”, thousands of supporters took to the streets, brandishing blue umbrellas on their way to the Union Buildings where DA leader John Steenhuisen is presenting the opposition party’s manifesto.

The launch comes ahead of the 2024 national and provincial elections, of which the date has not been announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa yet.

ALSO READ: Is election date delay due to ANC fear, or because Electoral Bill is late?

DA manifesto march of ‘symbolic importance’

DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer said the march was of “symbolic importance”.

“This march to the Union Buildings holds symbolic importance, signifying our determination to usher in a new era of governance, bidding farewell to stagnation. The DA is poised to lead, prioritising the welfare of the people.”

‘Solutions-driven’ manifesto – Solly Msimanga

DA Gauteng premier candidate Solly Msimanga weighed in on the manifesto before Steenhuisen took to the podium at midday.

“The DA and the multi-party coalition have a greater chance of taking over government. We are just laying what that foundation is going to be like,” said Msimanga, who will face off against the ANC’s Panyaza Lesufi and the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in the fierce leadership battle for Gauteng.

We’ll be talking solutions – when talking about infrastructure, security and the economy. We want to put some timelines to some of our plans.

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 ALSO READ: Solly Msimanga back in hot seat as DA’s Gauteng premier candidate

John Steenhuisen outlines 2024 DA election manifesto

From ways to end load shedding to the fight against crime and job creation, here’s the party’s election manifesto in a nutshell, as delivered by Steenhuisen to the thunderous applause of supporters at the Union Buildings.

The seven key promises outlined in the manifesto include:

• Creation of two million new jobs;
• End load shedding and water shedding;
• Halve the rate of violent crime, including murder, attempted murder and gender-based violence (GBV);
• Abolish cadre deployment in favour of merit-based appointments and a capable state that
  delivers for all;
• Lift six million people out of poverty;
• Triple the number of Grade 4 learners who can read for meaning; and
• Ensure quality healthcare for all, irrespective of economic status.

Crime stats

The DA’s manifesto launch follows the release of South Africa’s 2023/2024 annual crime statistics on Friday, 16 February, by Police Minister Bheki Cele.

The latest statistics show an alarming increase in murders with as many as 86 people killed daily, while sexual offences and rape incidents decreased slightly.

Cadre deployment

This week, the ruling party has failed in its cadre deployment appeal against the DA’s  2021 access application to ANC deployment records.

The ANC filed papers in the Constitutional Court after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) upheld a South Gauteng High Court ruling directing it to hand over documents on cadre deployment dating back to January 2013.

• Continue watching the rest of the DA manifesto launch LIVE HERE