The M&G election guide: DA

Apr 21 2009 16:12

As part of the Democracy 2009 series, the Mail & Guardian presents the guide for the elections tomorrow

Democratic Alliance

Helen Zille DA leader and Cape Town mayor

As the first female leader of the DA, Helen Zille did well to ensure that the party is in a far better position than it was under Tony Leon. Her success as Cape Town mayor was crucial in this turnaround. She quickly managed to escape the ghost of Leon by refusing to adopt his aggressive attitudes and deal with political opponents in a tough but respectful manner, which brought a sea change in how the official opposition is seen by the ruling party.

Zille is known for her can-do attitude, rather than for spending her time taking on opponents from the opposition benches in Parliament. In fact, she never set foot in the place. After a stint as Western Cape education minister, she remained in the region’s legislature before becoming Cape Town mayor.

Parliament was left to Sandra Botha, another sign of how Zille set herself apart from her predecessor, who tightly held the reins of the party from the front opposition benches.

Zille has been granted audiences with former president Thabo Mbeki as well as the current ANC leadership at which she discussed thorny issues such as the disbandment of the Scorpions -- a feat unknown to the DA, which, before Zille, spent most of its time on the receiving end of ANC insults.

Her stint as mayor has not been easy. She managed a fragile coalition of smaller parties which, when the going got tough, were lured to the ANC side with sweeteners and handouts. Somehow she managed to hold the coalition together and her metro is known as the best-run municipality in the country. Under Zille’s leadership crime was reduced by 90% in the Cape Town city centre and she promises to build on her successes if she gets elected as Western Cape premier.

PLANS AND PROMISES

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EDUCATION
Every region must have an arts festival

M&G says: Most already have festivals, but they are Afrikaans events because those are the ones that make money.

HEALTH
Train and recruit more doctors and nurses

M&G says: With a poor schools that do not feed enough competent matriculants into the system, these recruitments will need to come from overseas and to recruit overseas professionals will mean increasing salaries, which is a burden on the state coffers.

Stop teenage pregnancy by giving cash to kids who don’t have kids

M&G says: Good idea in principle, but could be an administrative nightmare.

CRIME
Bring back the Scorpions

M&G says: Without a majority in Parliament, this cannot be done.

Build eight more prisons to accommodate 28 000 prisoners

M&G says: Why not rather use that money to improve the criminal justice system as a whole?

ELECTION REFORM
Directly elect the national president through a separate ballot

M&G says: With a ruling party that controls two-thirds of Parliament this means little. A president can still be removed by impeachment with a majority vote in Parliament.

Limit the mushrooming of small parties by forcing them to have 1% of the votes before they may enter Parliament

M&G says: This will put out parties like the Freedom Front Plus, which was responsible for keeping the Cape Town metro council alliance in the DA’s favour. Is this how you treat old friends?

GOVERNANCE
End ANC’s deployment system -- no more jobs for pals

M&G says: The DA has been accused of the same in the Cape Town council.

ECONOMY
Politically free tender issuance
M&G says: Even if they are not directly involved, political heads still have the power to influence who will get what.

Reduce taxes by decreasing corporate tax to encourage investment

M&G says: With the national budget going into a deficit, South Africa will lose much-needed cash if corporate taxes are reduced.

LAND REFORM
No land grabs: all land transfers based on the willing buyer, willing seller principle

M&G says: This principle has seen very little land being transferred since 1994. It might be fair, but is it effective?

ENVIRONMENT
Create an office of sustainable development

M&G says: In the light of the increased focus on climate change, this will look good for South Africa’s international image.

FOREIGN POLICY
End the African solidarity approach in foreign policy

M&G says: South Africans are already seen by the rest of African countries as the “Yanks of Africa”. Such a change in foreign policy might isolate the country from the continent.

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The M&G election guide: DA

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