The DA's Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane.
"I believe that no citizen of Gauteng should live in fear of crime," he told DA supporters at the party's Gauteng manifesto launch and job rally at Ellis Park stadium on Saturday. "For every person who wants to feel safe in Gauteng, this is your fight too."
Maimane said druglords in communities such as Eldorado Park, were operating from government housing. "I pledge that we will evict druglords from all public property, that is our promise." The DA would demand three special police units including a drug squad, a gang unit and a domestic violence unit, he said.
It would also pass the Community Safety Act in Gauteng. "This law will give us power to hold the police accountable," said Maimane. "We will watch over them and we will keep the police working hard and working honestly." He said the party would also fight against government corruption. The DA would introduce a new ministerial handbook that would cut luxuries for all government officials.
"No more R1.3-million cars, no more credit cards, no more R500 000 swimming pools." Maimane said that while the ANC defended e-tolls and Nkandla, the DA would "stand up to fight for change". "The Gauteng of our future must be one where all children will grow up to be anything they want to be," said Maimane.
Earlier, DA leader Helen Zille, dressed in a red dress, walked into the Ellis Park indoor arena as blue confetti was dispersed into the air. Crowds of people cheered and sang struggle songs as Zille entered. "It is good to be in Gauteng and to see so many supporters," she told the crowd.
Referring to Maimane, Zille said: "We have the right man to lead Gauteng," she said. "He has integrity, intelligence and determination, he is a blue man."
'Banana state'
DA Gauteng leader, John Moodey, said President Jacob Zuma has disappointed South Africa. "Under ANC president Jacob Zuma's leadership, South Africa has become a banana state," he told DA supporters at the rally for jobs. "Zuma has brought shame to our country and belittled the presidency."
Moodey referred to controversial incidents in which Zuma had been implicated, such as the security upgrades to his private Nkandla home. He also claimed that under Zuma's leadership, unemployment had risen in the country. "Our people are unemployed, poor and hungry." Moodey said Gauteng was the "economic heartbeat of the country," and encouraged people to use their vote on May 7 to "liberate Gauteng".
"You and I can reverse and rescue the country from the downward spiral into doom," he said. "Let us make Gauteng blue." – Sapa