The Democratic Alliance (DA) used Heritage Day celebrations to step up its campaign for control of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) with its mayoral candidate Helen Zille telling supporters that the city could be turned around through effective leadership and cooperation.
Zille addressed a gathering of DA supporters in Bertrams, east of Joburg, where she outlined her vision for the city and criticised the current coalition government led by the African National Congress (ANC).
“I have helped turn a city around before. I know what it takes. And I know we can do it in Joburg too if we win and work together,” Zille said.
“Joburg is worth fighting for. And when we get Joburg working, there will be a ripple effect across the city that will turn into a wave of growing prosperity for all.”
Zille also accused the current city administration of allowing public funds to be misused and the city to deteriorate.
She criticised the role played by smaller parties in determining the city’s political leadership, pointing to the appointment of two mayors from Al Jama-ah, which she said has three councillors in the 270-member council.
“Joburg has already had two mayors from Al Jama-ah, a party with three councillors out of 270. While they got the mayor’s chain and the blue lights, the ANC could just continue to stealing. That was the deal,” Zille said.
She claimed that residents were not benefiting from the political arrangements governing the city. “And what do the people get? Dololo,” she said.
Zille further alleged that individuals were benefiting financially from the city’s problems, accusing them of cable theft and the looting of public money.
“There are people making a lot of money out of Joburg’s failures. They steal cables, loot public money and threaten the people who get in their way,” she said.
Heritage Day, observed annually on 24 September, provided the backdrop for the DA’s political gathering as parties continue to position themselves ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The DA has made the state of Joburg’s municipal services, governance and finances central to its campaign message, while criticising the ANC-led coalition arrangements that have governed the city.
Zille’s remarks come as political parties continue their efforts to win support in Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, where political control has shifted between different coalition formations in recent years.
