ANC Proud of Nkandla

I have been a member of the Democratic Alliance since 2008 and have been a keen follower of the South African political landscape all my life.

South Africans are keenly aware of government corruption, as a different news story relating to wasteful expenditure and poor decision-making on the part of the ruling party is released on a daily basis.

I was, however, under the impression when I attended my very first meeting of the Tshwane City Council on 27 March 2014, that the ruling party would seek to paint themselves in a positive and reformative light in the build-up to the National and Provincial Elections on 7 May 2014.

I could not have been more wrong.

I was saddened and deeply disturbed when during a speech given by DA Ward Councillor Siobhan Muller, an ANC Councillor shouted at her in a loud and aggressive tone, "We will build another Nkandla!"

The speech that the Honourable DA Councillor was attempting to make before being interrupted, made mention of the DA's opinion that taxpayer's money should be utilised for service delivery as opposed to the expenditure of R246 million on a presidential palace.

The ANC's opposition to and defence of such exorbitant wasteful expenditure was made apparent even before the Tshwane Council meeting, when the party instructed lawyers in Kwazulu/Natal to have the Public Protector's report on Nkandla set aside. The ruling party also felt that it would be in their best interests to arrange a march against the Office of the Public Protector.

There is no clear reason as to why the ruling party wishes to destroy Thuli Madonsela, other than that she does her job as constitutionally mandated and literally protects the public.

It is indeed a dark day when the ANC in Tshwane argues that they will build another Nkandla.

The ANC has changed.

I am sad. I am disappointed. I am shocked.

I can only hope that on Election Day the public decides that they have had enough of ANC arrogance and corruption. Under a Democratic Alliance government, individuals convicted of fraud and corruption will neither be able to hold public office nor even find employment in a DA-led administration.

There is a very real chance that the DA will win Gauteng in May 2014. Every vote will count. I know for the fact that this is the most important election of my lifetime. It is an election to defend all of our freedoms.

Michael Shackleton is the youngest and newest DA Councillor in the Tshwane Caucus and is a candidate for the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

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