Johnathan Paoli
The Freedom Front Plus has positioned the November local government elections as an opportunity to rescue failing municipalities, with party leader Pieter Groenewald promising structural reforms to reverse the deterioration of towns and cities.
Launching the party’s election manifesto in Pretoria on Saturday, Groenewald said voters had demonstrated in the 2024 national election that they wanted political change and should use their ballots again to reshape local government.
“I want to say to you today, and especially with the youth and the future that lies ahead, that we can restore the impossible, which is being done in our towns and cities on November 4th. The Freedom Front Plus is an extremely important political party that participates in making the impossible possible,” he said.
The FF+ is campaigning on a promise to turn around struggling municipalities through structural reforms. Groenewald argued that the determination and discipline behind major achievements in space exploration could also be applied to South Africa’s failing local authorities.
He opened his address by invoking the Apollo 11 moon landing and the landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars, using the achievements to argue that seemingly impossible challenges could be overcome through hard work, preparation and teamwork.
“In July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I start there, because in that time, when it was said that we were going to land on the moon, people said it was impossible. It can’t happen. And it did happen. The moon landing made the impossible possible,” Groenewald said.
He said the lesson for South Africa was that municipalities could also be restored if politicians and officials were prepared to work collectively and with discipline.
“There are still people today who do not believe that there was a man landing. But ladies and gentlemen, I want to say to you today, and especially with the youth and the future that lies ahead, that we can restore the impossible, which is being done in our towns and cities on November 4th,” he said.
Groenewald highlighted what he described as the qualities behind successful space missions, including dedication, hard work, pride, interdependence and mutual respect.
“They got it right because they were dedicated. They got it right because they worked hard. They got it right because they had pride in themselves. They got it right to be dependent on each other, because it is a huge burden that everyone has to carry in their work. They got it right because they had respect for each other, to be able to make the difference,” he said.
Groenewald said these principles should underpin the party’s approach to local government, where poor service delivery, failing infrastructure and dysfunctional administrations have left municipalities struggling to meet their constitutional obligations.
“If we want to make change and create change in South Africa, we must ensure that we comply to that what our people want,” he said.
Groenewald framed the party’s local government campaign around the Constitution’s commitment to a united South Africa, saying common values could overcome differences in language and culture.
“If we look at the preamble of the constitution of South Africa, it refers to we have 12 official languages, but then we also say in the preamble, we are united in our diversity. Now what does that mean? Because people say, diversity, different cultures, different languages, how can you be united? We can unite if we share the same values. That is how we unite,” he said.
He said honesty, respect, diligence and a willingness to work hard for communities were values shared across South Africa and should define FF+ councillors.
“In 2024, the voters of South Africa, the people of South Africa brought hope. Because the people in 2024 said, we are not going to continue the way we go in South Africa. And they decided there’s not going to be one single political party as the ANC to govern us for the future. They’ve changed that. The people of South Africa,” Groenewald said.
He urged voters to turn that change into local political action in the upcoming elections.
“My appeal to the people of South Africa is if we say we want hope and I believe everyone believes that we will have hope, is that make sure you go and vote. And the future, the hope for the future lies in your cross,” he said.
Groenewald said FF+ councillors would be tasked with applying the party’s “restore and rebuild” message directly to municipalities.
“In 2024, the slogan was, let’s restore South Africa and rebuild South Africa. And I feel privileged to be in a position to restore and rebuild South Africa. And therefore, the councillors will also restore and rebuild those towns and cities that are actually falling apart.”
He ended by calling on the party’s supporters and candidates to take responsibility for the change they wanted to see.
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