The African National Congress is confident of taking the Midvaal municipality from the Democratic Alliance, Gauteng provincial spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said on Saturday.
“We are determined to win Midvaal to ensure there is transformation and opportunities are opened for all people to earn an honest living and to protect the rights of citizens,” he said in welcoming the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) decision to dismiss 75 complaints from the DA about alleged voter rigging in Midvaal.
“The IEC has confirmed that all those people the DA was complaining about are official residents of Midvaal. This was an attempt by the DA to disenfranchise legitimate voters in order to stay in power.”
He said the ANC has been vindicated and that the DA had told lies to the public about the ANC bussing people into the area who were not residents.
DA founded on ‘mendacity and deceit’
“We know that they will continue to tell lies to justify wrongdoing. The DA is a party founded on [a] concoction of mendacity and deceit. Who can forget how the DA destroyed the National Party and now the ID so that they gain the entire majority.”
Ntuli said the Johannesburg was the success story of many local governments in South Africa and the world.
He said the DA’s book, The Cape Town Story, on the party’s success, had been twisted to gain votes.
Many development projects in the city were skewed to white areas, with no regard for poor areas, he said.
“There is complete neglect of African areas. Many people are torn apart and fractured by the uneven social and economic development. The truth is that Jo’burg is the success story of many local governments in South Africa and the world.”
He said the DA-controlled Midvaal municipality did not approve housing and infrastructure development.
“There is a lot of dehumanisation and deprivation, with the municipality failing to build proper roads in plots occupied by farm workers and informal settlements.”
Midvaal is the only Gauteng municipality not under the control of the ruling party.
Zille:’You don’t have to tolerate corruption’
Meanwhile, DA leader Helen Zille said in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday, that it made no sense to vote for a party which had failed millions of South Africans — still living in poverty 17 years after democracy.
“The ANC itself has admitted to letting people down. You have the power to get rid of corrupt people within this area,” Zille told residents.
She cited recent comments by the Congress of South African Trade Unions that the ANC was going into the elections with its tail between its legs for not delivering on its promises.
“Vote for change on May 18. You have the power to do that,” she said from loud cheers from crowd.
Zille visited a family of nine siblings living in a wooden shack — the size of an average suburban bathroom.
Christina Holmes (53) said her family, including six grandchildren, lived with her after their home burned down three years ago.
‘We have sleeping night shifts. When the one wakes up another one takes their turn to sleep,” she told the South African Press Association.
Riverlea residents said they were unhappy with their local councillor, whom they accused of corruption.
Zille told them they needed someone who would put their needs first.
“In the meantime, do you think that the conduct of the councillor has been investigated by the Johannesburg City Council and do you think he has been investigated by the ANC?
“Of course he hasn’t. Instead, he has been given the chance to keep his seat at this election. He is the ANC’s candidate for this ward and he still has a cloud over his head,” she said.
She told residents it did not have to be like this.
“You don’t have to tolerate corruption … You can choose five more years of bribery, corruption and poor service delivery or you can choose the DA.” – Sapa