Johnathan Paoli
DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen’s speech in which he invoked what has been described as “fear-mongering” reminiscent of apartheid government’s “Swart Gevaar” warnings, has left some opposition parties reeling, accusing him of being intolerant to competition in Cape Town – the party’s home province.
During the party’s manifesto launch in Paarl over the weekend Steenhuisen said the Western Cape’s largest threats included parties such as the Patriotic Alliance, Rise Mzansi, GOOD Party and the National Coloured Congress, which he referred to as political mercenaries.
Steenhuisen also told his supporters the biggest risks to the province ahead of the elections was voter complacency and questioned the rival parties’ interest in the WC as opposed to Limpopo and other provinces.
“The biggest risk to continued progress and building a better future for all of us in this province is complacency and mercenary parties like the PA, Rise Mzansi, GOOD and NCC. They are not interested in taking on the ANC,” Steenhuisen said.
Steenhuisen accused the opposition parties of wanting to loot the Western Cape government, and said other provinces were full of despair.
“They know there is nothing left to loot in other provinces and want to come to the Western Cape because they want to get their hands on the budget and money that has been well looked after by our government. If they get that right, it’s going to be the biggest bank heist you’ve ever seen. Within a few months the money will be gone in this province,” he said.
Steenhuisen said he remained unhappy with the City of Johannesburg, a municipality which the DA led in past years through coalition governments, his home-city Durban and other areas across the country in which the ruling party and its coalition partners have “betrayed” the people.
The federal leader commented on EFF leader Julius Malema’s statement that his party would give the ANC its vote if it made deputy president Floyd Shivambu finance minister.
However, the speech has been lambasted as fear-mongering, with several parties, including partners within the Multi-Party Charter of South Africa condemning him..
Rise Mzansi WC Premier Candidate Irfaan Mangera questioned the performance of the federal leader’s speech and said that the DA wasted its opportunity to counter the ANC and adopted some of the ruling party’s habits instead.
PA Leader Gayton McKenzie, said that if Steenhuisen could make such statements publicly, one could only imagine what he says behind closed doors.
EFF CIC Julius Malema said he remained unconcerned about the opinion of Steenhuisen as there was no value to his addresses, and that he did not have to occupy the presidency to implement EFF policies.
“The problem with these big parties is that they’re driven by ego; they can’t differentiate between power and glory. The problem in this country is the department of finance which engages in anti-poor policies,” Malema said.
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