Mmusi is the toast of uMhlanga
DA leader addresses local residents at a packed KZN Sharks Board hall to talk about his party's Vision 2029.
DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane, was greeted with rapturous applause by a crowd of 750 locals at the KZN Sharks Board in uMhlanga last Tuesday. Maimane, who visited Jacob Zuma’s home town of Nkandla with members of the parliamentary ad hoc committee just hours later, was in KZN as part of his party’s Vision 2029 plan. He spoke about a sense of disillusionment that many South Africans face because of a government that was ‘not accountable to its people’.
Mt Edgecombe PR councillor, Rory Mcpherson, eThekwini DA councillor and caucus leader, Zwakele Mncwango, and John Steenhuisen, Chief Whip of the party, addressed the partisan crowd before Maimane took to the stage. Each of the speakers spoke about bringing hope back to the people. Supporters were also shown a three-minute video which articulated the opposition party’s hopes for a brighter future.
The message of hope was echoed throughout Maimane’s speech, who said he hoped his party would be in power by the next general elections.
“I’m glad we have met at the Sharks Board because tonight I want to speak about the real sharks, those who are stealing away our future. Those are the real sharks. South Africans are saying enough is enough. We need to safeguard the future of this country. Democracy survives when we hold the government accountable and the only way forward is a government that looks after its people. Nkandla is an offence to South Africans. We need to eradicate exclusivity.
“My hope is to create a South Africa where you are judged, not on the colour of your skin, but by the content of your character. I want South Africans, rich or poor, to hold on to hope. Vision 2029 is not a pipe dream, if we get into government, we can change South Africa for the better,” he said.
He also quoted former US president Bill Clinton, saying “What is wrong with South Africa can be fixed by what is right in South Africa.”
Maimane also told the supporters the historical injustices of the past had to be addressed.
Former Durban North councillor, John Steenhuisen, bemoaned the ‘moribund government’ which was letting one man dictate the terms of democracy.
“We have loadshedding and watershedding. But the only load that needs shedding is the load in the Union Buildings. The DA has a vision of instilling hope in South Africans and we wholeheartedly believe we are the catalysts for change,” Steenhuisen said.
