Johnathan Paoli and Lerato Mbhiza
At the DA’s Gauteng Provincial Congress held on Saturday in Kempton Park, party leaders repeatedly criticised and attacked both the ANC and EFF, whom they referred to in colours of yellow and red respectively.
Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, in her opening speech, called the delegates and members gathered as Blue people in a Blue army, with a Blue heart.
“If you want a Blue Government, you have to vote for it. It doesn’t just come, you have to vote for it,” she said.
Zille went on to criticise the ANC government as “the yellow party”, in relation to corruption and their alleged disregard for the rule of law.
She further pointed out at the increasing support she said the DA enjoyed in the race ahead of the national and provincial elections to be held next year, hinting that there was a looming confrontation between the DA and the third-largest party in the country, the EFF.
“In spitting distance of the yellow party. It won’t be long before the choice is between blue and red,” she said
Zille demonised the EFF in its use of a binary distinction between the two ideological frameworks of the parties.
“Red is hate, Blue is reconciliation. Racism is red, nonracism is blue. Failed Marxist economies is red, free market economies is blue. State control is red, freedom is blue. Breaking everything down and calling for murder is red, calling all the blue people to unite and be free is blue.
“If South Africa is to have any future, it is to be blue. So Blue People, mobilise! We need to go out and conquer!” she said to applause and shouts of support from the audience.
Next up, the Federal Chairperson, Dr Ivan Meyer, added his voice against the growing resentment for the government inadequacies and EFF’s violent rhetoric.
“Everything in this province is broken. The ANC broke everything. But let me be clear, the people of Gauteng aren’t broken, the ANC is broken,” Dr Meyer said.
Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen said the motive of building up an effective coalition-alliance to both provide an alternative to the ANC-led government as well as counter the rising rumours of a ‘Doomsday Coalition’ comprising the fighters amongst others such as the Patriotic Alliance.
The Federal Leader stressed not only the necessity of a coalition but that such a coalition should be based on experienced leadership.
“For coalitions to succeed we need strong anchors like the DA, who have experience in governance,” Steenhuisen said.
“I say to the other parties who have not yet joined the pact, the door is still open, our hands are open and generous. come and join us around the table so together we can have the best opportunity to change South Africa,” Steenhuisen said, concerning the possible addition of members to the Moonshot Pact.
Steenhuisen concluded with a reference to Ben E. King’s hit “Stand By Me” and called upon his party members to effectively assist in the registration of possible voters ahead of next year.
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