Buses and taxis came from afar as DA supporters gathered to march for free and fair elections in Mogolodi Street in Ext. 7 Ikageng this weekend.
The men and women in blue all waited in anticipation for the address from the DA national leader, Mmusi Maimane. He highlighted Tlokwe’s monumental and historic victory in ensuring free and fair elections for the whole of South Africa. The Constitutional Court set aside the results of the by-elections held in six wards in Tlokwe in 2013. This, he said, had national significance.
“It was the independent candidates in these wards – ordinary citizens – who took the IEC to court. It is great to be in Tlokwe today because this city has taught South Africans around the country about protecting democracy,” he said. Maimane says there are two lessons to be learned as voters prepare to go to the polls for the local government elections in August.
“The first is that the final line of defence in our democracy – our judiciary – is still strong and independent. While just about every other state institution has fallen into the hands of Jacob Zuma’s ANC, we know we can count on the courts to safeguard our democracy.
“And the second lesson we should learn here is that, while the IEC is tasked with keeping an eye on our elections, it is up to every single South African to keep an eye on the IEC. We must all take responsibility for protecting our democracy and take ownership of these elections,” he said.
Despite the order of the day being a march for free and fair elections, the DA leader also took a swipe at Zuma and decried the failures and shortcomings of the current government.
“The best ANC of Nelson Mandela is in heaven, the one on earth is corrupt. Jacob Zuma is corrupt and we want him to face corruption charges. Time and time again, we have seen the ANC use state-funded food parcels in the run-up to elections to buy votes, particularly in closely-contested areas. When they bring you food parcels, you must eat the food but never vote for the givers. Earlier that day, the DA’s provincial leader, Joe Mcgluwa, raucously said: “When Musi Maimane says ‘voetsek Zuma, I am saying voetsek to Supra Mahumapelo and Kgotso Khumalo. Come 3 August, die poppe gaan dans.”
Mcgluwa said the DA wants to put Tlokwe where the Western Cape and Midvaal are in terms of service delivery. He urged the people to loan the DA their votes for five years, during which the party will show them what it can do.
“We want our children to be safe in the streets,” he said.
On a sombre note, Maimane says the face of poverty is still black. “It is the black people who still live in shacks and are unemployed. We cannot claim to be free when the face of poverty is still black. The only way SA will prosper is if all of us prosper together. A hungry person cannot claim freedom. Jacob Zuma’s cattle have a better life than we do,” he said. “It breaks my heart to see the houses that were built by the Apartheid government are still standing. Apartheid was an evil system. The current government’s houses are falling and there are a lot of potholes. What type of government is this?” he asked. Maimane reminded everyone that what unites them is not the colour of their skin. “We want South Africa for black, white, Indian and coloured. We came to the DA because we want a future for our children Z electricity, water, sanitation, better services and a clean government. Only the DA can deliver that. The DA is not going to stand for corruption.”
The most surprising moment of the day was when two former ANC mayors came forward and pledged their membership to the DA. Nicholas Khonkobi, former mayor of the greater Taung, and Steve Kutumela, former mayor of Moretele both joined the DA because they, too, do not want corruption.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
