Johnathan Paoli
African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula says his party, if voted into power, will ramp up job creation by constructing factories that will hire people, and promised to provide quality public healthcare, which includes prioritising food inspectors.
The ATM launched its Gauteng provincial campaign at the Jabulani Amphitheater in Soweto where Zungula addressed thousands of supporters on Sunday and said the party’s solutions are tailored to address critical issues, including unemployment, health care, and social grants.
“Under the ATM government, we are going to ensure that there’s local production of basic goods. We can’t import soap, and toothpicks to the extent that everything we eat, and wear is made in other countries. SA will not be Made in China. Under the ATM most products will be made in SA. That is how you create jobs, you build factories, and manufacture in that country to create jobs,” he said.
The party criticised the quality of health services for the poor and said there must be quality health care for all South Africans, despite the government’s current intervention to ensure that all citizens have access to quality healthcare through the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
“We are equally saying, as the ATM, there needs to be quality healthcare for everyone. There can’t be a case whereby if you are rich, you are wealthy, you are going to get exceptional healthcare but if you are poor, you are not going to get quality healthcare,” Zungula said.
The ATM leader called for an increase in social grants, and said the grant system must be dependable, adding that the increase must reflect the scale of the needs of South Africans.
“There must be a timeous and dependable grant system. We can’t have grants that we will receive today and tomorrow we don’t get them and grants must increase to reflect the needs of our people,” he said.
In addition, Zungula said there was a need for more food inspectors in the country following the death of multiple people from suspected food poisoning, and that the scourge remained concerning as most of the victims are the children of the country.
“People in our country are being poisoned deliberately, that is why we are saying let the government employ all environmental health practitioners,” he said.
In addition, Zungula said that an ATM-led government will bring back the death penalty, and encourage police officers to shoot to kill criminals as part of bringing law and order to South Africa.
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