Maimane’s ‘Believe’ crusade comes to town

Mmusi Maimane, DA National spokesperson and candidate for the Gauteng Premiership, has visited Roodepoort as part of his election campaign (with the slogan ‘Believe!’) on the rainy evening of 28 October.

The Florida Moth Hall was packed to the rafters with extra chairs being brought out and many of the attendees finding themselves standing.

Maimane cleverly kept his audience captivated by his eloquent use of humour, anecdotes, facts and statistics throughout what resembled a casual conversation rather than a dreary political speech.

“The other day I and my daughter were standing in our front yard when a street vendor approached us. As I motioned that I would like to look at his ware, he told me that I need not worry but just should call the ‘madam’. I hope that you are not just looking for the madam,” he started jokingly in obvious reference to race stereotypes and accusations by his political opponents that DA Leader Hellen Zille is his ‘madam’.

“We are a nation of triumphant people. Like 1994 we again have the amazing opportunity to do something great. When we need to do something, we can,” he continued on a positive note but then said that, “Marikana signalled a government that we trusted but that we now can fear.”

Maimane painted South Africa as a country lagging behind its other African counterparts as far as economic development is concerned, touched on the frightening statistics regarding unemployment, drug abuse, corruption, a police force that has become a farce, what BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) should entail, and labour and education issues.

His speech was punctuated by the crowd shouting “Viva Mmusi!”, “Viva Zille!” and “Viva DA!”.

Maimane said that he was dumbfounded that someone with “700 criminal counts” against him (Jacob Zuma) could ask that people vote for him. He then added that he found it even more laughable that Julius Malema would come along saying “I have half of that, rather vote for me”.

Maimane also said that the DA was the way to go because according to government polls only the DA-run Western Cape was being governed properly. He furthermore added that “we must see a democratic change, not because of some fashion but because it would send a clear message to politicians that they are accountable and subjects of the people.

“If people lose faith in democracy they will change the government – but not at the ballot box,” Maimane warned.

On the questions fielded as to why the DA should get an opportunity, Maimane answered by using a metaphor that applies to cricket.

“The quality of a pitch can be determined only after both sides have had a chance to bat.”