By Marcus Moloko
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on South Africans to use the upcoming election to drive political change. He argued that the African National Congress’s (ANC) decline should mark the beginning of the country’s recovery.
Addressing supporters at the DA’s rally, Hill-Lewis urged voters to make election day a historic moment by backing the DA’s bid to become South Africa’s largest political party.
“I’m asking South Africans to do something truly historic. I’m asking South Africans to do something that will make history. I want us to use this election to make the DA the biggest party in South Africa.”
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Hill-Lewis said the election presented an opportunity for voters to change the country’s trajectory and restore confidence in South Africa’s future.
“The ANC’s decline must become South Africa’s recovery. Let Wednesday be a day that gives hope to millions of people.”
He said voters had the chance to demonstrate that the country could function effectively under different leadership.
“Let Wednesday be a day to show everyone that our country can still work. Let Wednesday be a day when we can choose a better future for our country.”
The DA leader called on South Africans to give the party a stronger mandate to expand its governance footprint across the country.
“So on the 4th of November, I’m asking you and every South African to give the DA the mandate to start that positive change in more towns and cities than ever before. Are you ready to do that?”
Hill-Lewis also expressed confidence in the DA’s national prospects, suggesting the party is closing the gap on the ANC.
“Now let me tell you something so exciting. We are this close to overtaking the ANC nationally.”
Helen Zille warned against voter apathy. She said voter apathy would hand failing leaders another term in office.
Zille acknowledged growing frustration among residents over poor service delivery, including deteriorating roads, water outages, malfunctioning traffic lights and sewage spills.
“I know you are tired. Tired of broken promises. Tired of dry taps and dark streets. Tired of potholes.”
In a swipe at ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, Zille mocked comments she attributed to him regarding the cause of potholes. “Did you see Fikile Mbalula say potholes are caused by climate change?”
She said many residents were frustrated by having to pay for services themselves despite paying taxes.
“You have every reason to be angry.”
Zille warned voters against abstaining from the election, saying doing so would benefit those responsible for the city’s challenges.
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“If you stay at home on election day, you won’t be punishing the comrades. You will be rewarding them. You will be giving them another five years to loot.”
She argued that Johannesburg could not afford another term of poor governance.
“Joburg cannot afford another five years of failure. It’ll be too late then.”
Zille said while many politicians can identify the city’s problems, the real challenge lies in solving them.
“Every politician can tell you what is wrong with Joburg. Just look around you. The question is, in this election, who knows how to fix it?”
Promoting the DA as the solution, she said effective governance required experience, competence and discipline.
“Because describing a problem is easy. Fixing it is something else. It takes experience. It takes competence. It takes courage. It takes discipline.”
She said successful administration depended on leaders who understood how to manage public resources and deliver services.
“It takes people who know how to do things, how to manage public money, how to get things done,” she said.
