Additional Pictures of Democracy on Fire

DEMOCRACY ON FIRE IN SOSHANGUVE

Today Helen Zille visted Gauteng North and more specifically Mabopane and Soshanguve. During the visit the shocking failure to deliver services screamed out for all to see and demands that drastic action must be taken. Poor quality RDP building methods, questionable allocation of housing and failure to settle a dispute with residents regarding houses which they have owned for many years was paramount to the unhappiness of residents.

In Itsoseng residents who have been living in homes which were built on land forming part of the former Bophuthatswana live in constant threat of having perfectly good houses bulldozed to form way for inferior quality RDP houses on small pieces of land. What is worse they have lived there for 18 years and do not even know if once their home is bulldozed whether or not they will be given a RDP house due to the lack of disclosure and communication of the ANC government house. Residents and DA supporters live with constant threats and intimidation. Due to the dispute which the ANC can not rectify services remain undelivered to the majority of households in the area. These people know better than most what life under the ANC is like and they are calling for a change so that these and many other issues may be addressed in an efficient and speedy manner.

After visiting homes and seeing the failure of government in the area we went to Slovo Park where many DA supporters had gathered to hear our Leader speak. The ANC too had gathered and with state of the art sound systems, alcohol and burning branches, a burning motor vehicle tyre and a burning DA T-shirts tried to disrupt the meeting.

These ANC supporters do not believe that the Democratic Alliance or any other political party has a right to meet supporters. This lack of tolerance of certain South Africans is a symptom of the rot which exists in our country and which hampers our development. If we do not stand up for our rights to disagree who will stand up and protect each other when the rights set out in our constitution are infringed.

This behavior must be rooted out from the ranks of the supporters of the ruling party or one day they will wake up and not have any of their own rights. Tolerance is the cornerstone of the constitution which South Africans have fought so hard to obtain. In a country with one of the finest constitutions in the world, it is hard to believe that the more our country has changed the more it has stayed the same. Supporters of the ruling party need to accept the fact that more and more South Africans are choosing to change loyalties. Intimidation and acts of violence will not help their cause. It is precisely this lack of tolerance and belief in an equal opportunity society which is at the root of the serious failure to deliver services in the various wards of our country and the ANC supporters do not like this lack of service to be publicised in the Media as has occurred with the visit of Helen and Media today.

We commend the police and metro police for stepping in when the situation became overly violent and supporters and police were being injured by the drunken protestors. Rubber bullets were shot into the crowd on various occasions and in the end a few of the rabble were arrested. I am however surprised and disappointed that the various Metro and SAP vehicles present did not have a fire extinguisher in order to extinguish the burning branches and Tyre. In the end the SAP and the DA supporters had to put the fire out by other means as no fire extinguishers were present. What would happen if they arrived at a motor car accident and a small fire had started? Do they just sit back and wait for the car to explode even if their are people trapped in the car? Whilst I appreciate that police officers are not fire fighters I hope that this situation is rectified.

Today our Constitution was put on trial. Today it won. If our constitution is to continue to have the respect of the judiciary and police then the people need to respect the constitution. South Africans must bend over backwards to accommodate our differences and give each other the respect to disagree and to be different. In the end these rights are the only thing which can promise a country of equal opportunities for all. A country where democracy is not attacked in a park by drunken rabble. Are you going to just sit back and watch your rights being attacked and continue to just watch Television and go about your life since it does not affect you now? If you do that, who will help you when your rights are directly infringed? I urge you to assist us to fight for our right to be different. If you give just a bit of your time or resources, you can join in the fight to protect yourself and your family.

Brandon Topham

Chairman Democratic Alliance Gauteng North

0824143926

LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE IN GAUTENG NORTH

The by-election in Ward 2 Kungwini ended in a land slide victory for the Democratic Alliance when we secured over 77% of the vote. The ANC received 15% of the vote with the balance going to the Freedom Front Plus and the independent candidate who also contested the election. Councillor Vickey Bosch was the campaign manager for the election and together with numerous volunteers and public representatives conducted a campaign aimed at reaching the residents and identifying the major issues surrounding this unique Ward on the outskirts of the City of Pretoria but falling into the the boundaries of Kungwini.

The newly elected Councillor Andre van der Walt understands the various issues of the residents and the high level of dissatisfaction with the failure of the ANC controlled municipality to provide efficient services to residents. He has pledged his commitment to work alongside the various Home owners associations and other resident organisations to find solutions for the ongoing legal dispute of the residents with the municipality. The Democratic Alliance has fought and opposed the incorporation of the councils of Nokeng and Kungwini into Tshwane in 2011 and will continue to do all possible to ensure that local government remains as close to residents as possible to ensure more effective delivery of services. The DA has and will continue to support the incorporation of the vast majority of this ward into Tshwane due to its proximity to the city but will continue its efforts to retain the independence of those areas which are geographically closer related to Nokeng and Kungwini. These and many other concerns of the residents will be at the forefront of the newly elected Councillor van der Walt as he assumes his responsibilities.

To ensure better communication with residents the DA urges those members of the public not yet receiving newsletters and communication from the party to contact us to ensure that you are placed on our mailing list. The party is committed to improving communications between voters and residents regardless of which political party the resident may have voted for.

The outcome of this election shows however that the vast and growing majority of residents have supported the Democratic Alliance and its ideals of an open opportunity society. We thank all the voters for their continued trust in us and assure you of our commitment to wining the elections in 2011. The Democratic Alliance believes that we are one nation with one future and we will fight for all South Africans constitutional right to fair and effective government. Thank you for your support to assist us to achieve this goal.

We have a right to shop

The recent spate of armed robberies in shopping centres shows how far we have moved from a constitutional state to one controlled and manipulated by thugs. Criminals no longer sneak around bushes in the dark of the night, they no longer skulk in the shadows, they no longer fear the law. With military precision they take on armed security vans and public shopping centres. Convicted criminals have even infiltrated the ranks of the law enforcers.

Whilst greed is at the forefront of these arrogant and larger than life tyrants, the lack of economic development and failure on the part of our police and justice system exacerbate the problem. Incorrect employment and promotion criteria are at the forefront of the collapse in our justice system. It is one thing for the ruling parties leaders to promote a shoot to kill policy which is reminiscent of a country under a state of emergency but it takes us further away from a constitutional state.

Our justice system needs cleaning up, simplifying and rationalising to make the enforcement and prosecution of serious crime a reality. Members of the public often call out for stricter sentences, urging the adaption of the eye for an eye doctrine. However sanctions have no effect if criminals can correctly and arrogantly believe that the law will not apprehend them and if apprehended will not successfully prosecute them. Many of the criminals can even look forward to successful careers in the police forces of our local and national government upon having been successfully convicted of assault and other serious crimes. Why should they give up there now successful career paths? Who knows perhaps in the future they may be made head of the metro police?

Unfortunately with every attack on a shopping centre there is an immediate reaction from the public. They stop shopping in fear of being hit in the cross fire. This adds to the problems of an economy which has little inputs from the government to develop the poor to be self sufficient. The existing syndrome of expecting the state to provide needs to be broken and replaced with one where our residents are inspired entrepreneurially to take their future into their own hands.

Under a DA government in 2011, residents in the greater Tshwane Metro can expect local government to cut red tape, stream line efficient government and develop local talents. We need to develop Tshwane as a business hub for young, small and large entrepreneurs who will be able to do business without fear from local crime lords.

The existing low profile of Metro police officers will be changed with the continued expansion of Ward based policing. Ensuring that all Wards have at least one Metro police vehicle at all times available to respond and assist the South African Police Service and other quasi security initiatives of residents. In addition visible policing near all major shopping centres will be implemented as a disincentive for the arrogant criminals to not target our shopping centres and rather pursue legitimate entrepreneurial activity. No convicted criminal will ever be employed under a Democratic Alliance led Tshwane Metropolitan council.

Residents can be assured of a cleaner, efficient and operational local government allowing us the right to shop without fear or worries as to what their government is NOT doing.

Firing the Mayor will ensure the City continues to miss the Boat to efficient government

The recent Empowerdex report which correctly reflects the terrible state of affairs in Tshwane has the cat amongst the pigeons. Unfortunately the political parties which are calling for a motion of non confidence have missed the boat just as the ANC has missed it when electing the Mayor. The last thing the City needs is another Mayor to blame the continued non-delivery on the failures of a predecessor. It is a recurring excuse which the ANC love to utilise. It is a great tool to deflect accountability and waste more time and resources.

The solution for the continued lack of service delivery and infrastructure implementation is not a new ANC Mayor. We need to look at the real issues. The DA has long been warning of the inefficient and terrible administration which has plagued our city. The report and sentiment of the communities striking and booing are just collaborating evidence of the serious disease eating at our core. The scandalous lack of performance is not the result of one person. Whilst it is true that the Mayor is the symbolic head of the Circus and as ring leader must be held accountable, she should not be let off so easy. We can not allow a new ANC Mayor to ask for more time on account of being a new broom. We have allowed the ANC to give us a minister of religion in the prayer that the ANC will be able to govern. We have allowed the ANC to give us a medical doctor in the hope that she will be able to keep the residents anaesthetised until 2011. Do we really want to allow the ANC to choose a new Mayor? With most of the MMC’s being changed who would they choose from in any case? Change is good when it results in positive improvement. Change for the sake of misdirection helps no one.

The ANC do not have a suitable candidate. The Mayor should be able to lead, improvise, change, have business acumen but most important should subscribe to the doctrines of an Open opportunity society. No we don’t need a Mayor without the correct skills nor do we need a Mayor who has political debts and favors to repay. We do not need one with an agenda to hide past lack of administration and incompetence. If we leave it to the ANC they may provide us with a retired Taxi driver who will just continue to ignore the rules of good governance, who will continue to ride in the yellow lane and not solve the problem but only make it worse. We do not need a Mayor who will drive over obstacles and create more accidents due to a failure to grasp the basic concepts of good business. We do not need a Mayor who does not have a license to drive anything especially not our city.

The time has come for the residents who missed the boat in the last elections to make sure that they are prepared for the next voyage. The boat leaves in 2011 and we need to look beyond the chaos left in the wake of the ANC and board the 2011 DA ocean liner which will be crewed by competent crew, leaders and a captain who will ensure proper governance and true service delivery for all residents of this city which has the fundamental opportunities to be a true leading capital city. We need a government which can make this a reality not just words.

Looking Beyond 2010 to a DA Metro in 2011

After holding our recent AGM there is now a new management team at the helm of the Democratic Party in Gauteng North. We are at the beginning of an exciting political period with a promise having been made to members and all residents of a win in 2011 by the DA in the Greater Metropolitan Council of Tshwane. A win which will mean the end of the suffering which the residents in our region will unfortunately be forced to endure under the current poor administration of the ANC. A win for the DA and a win for all residents regardless of which political party they support in the elections.

The demarcation process and stated intentions of the ANC will lead to a single consolidated greater Metropolitan municipality. This provides us with the clear immediate and realistic expectation of taking control from the ANC of all the councils in our region in 2011. Thus the councils of Tshwane, Nokeng Tsa Taemane and Kungwini will fall away and be consolidated into various greater metropolitan councils with the majority fo the wards falling into Tshwane.

This expectation of winning in 2011 is a realistic expectation if we can properly communicate with the voters how close the contest is. We only need to convert about 10% of ANC voters to the DA in order to gain control over the council. The apathy of voters needs to be countered as every vote will make a difference.

Whilst other parties are scrambling to survive or regain control of their parties we in the DA have heightened levels of energy and excitement as we sense that we are living in a historic period in our countries future. The DA must win control of government in Gauteng, the power house of this country. Tshwane is the starting point for our party to be able to duplicate our successful government as demonstrated in other parts of South Africa, where the DA is in control.

We understand that change and paradigm shifting will be necessary together with focused effort to bring efficient, capable government to the greater metropolitan council of Tshwane.

Convincing apathetic voters alone will not be enough to win in 2011. We will need to rely on our friends in the ANC to continue doing what they do so well. We need to rely on them to continue to be the "competent" administrators which show the residents that by continuing to support the ANC it will result in continued failed delivery and increase in crime and unemployment. We only need to convince a small percentage of the ANC supporters to see the light and to look beyond the present chaos to the promise of a better council under the DA, the party which has proven it can deliver and respond to the needs of residents.

In the last elections the DA received 245,184 votes. Should each voter be able to convert just one other we will be able to win control without a coalition. Fortunately our win does not require a 100% conversion rate. We win if only a small number are able to help us convince the public the time to convert to the promise of the DA is now.

To assist our supporters to convey the conversion message our region will focus our efforts on projects which may not have a direct political message but which will be designed to show the public and the media that the DA can deliver practical solutions aimed at alleviating hardships being endured by them. It is based on the premise that if you want to sell pots, the least effective manner to do that is by door to door sales. We will use our pots to cook up a feast which will force our border line supporters to convert as they will see that our pots cook a scrumptious meal. That our pots do not have holes in them. That the right pot is used for the meal and that we do not favour pots who are friends but are incapable of being used in preparing a meal due to their technical deficiencies or burnt bottoms and track records of failure. Our pots will also not have track records of being used in the commission of violent crimes.

Recognising peoples contributions to the conversion process and building branches will be a high priority. We also aim to involve branches more directly in programs enabling branch members to feel more involved in politics and increasing their willingness to serve and be part of the promised win in 2011.

We will be offering entrepreneurial based workshops open to all members of the public. We have also planned courses on preparing CV’s, interview techniques and career guidance workshops. We will be establishing a political solutions help line communicated to the public as a mechanism to ensure that by 2011 we are at full speed with the problems which the ANC can currently not solve. It will provide our public representatives with closer contact with issues and an opportunity to show residents that even though we are not in control at the moment we still have success in sorting out problems of our residents with the ANC councils.

The DA is committed to providing an efficient and open government which will protect and assist all South Africans and not just a select group of connected persons. Our positive brand of change is based on the knowledge that we know that we will win and that our voters can believe in our promise that we will win. Once we have won they can be assured that we will solve the problems of the past and the problems created by the current incompetencies and closed policies of the ANC.

Our region is united in the vision of 2011 and we are committed to work together as a team setting aside personal issues in order to be united and focused. We are looking with longing beyond the gloom to the light of a region under the leadership and administration of the DA in 2011. We promise delivery in 2011 and beyond.

Brandon

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