Presidential Imbizo: ANC using public resources to electioneer in Western Cape

18 May 2023

The Presidential Imbizo taking place in the Cape Winelands District on Friday is a transparently obvious attempt by the ANC to use state resources to electioneer in the province. Unable to provide any clear leadership to the country, President Ramaphosa has done the only thing that he is capable of - using state resources to go on PR roadshows and talk shop – all as the country sits in darkness.

The people of the Western Cape see through the ANC’s charade.

At a time of economic downturn and rolling blackouts, communities do not want empty promises – they want leaders with strong track records of service delivery, fulfilment of mandates, and real change. For years now, the DA has led the Western Cape to the lowest unemployment rates in the country, and the highest literacy rates. And with the province on track to end to the energy crisis by 2026 and halve the murder rate by 2029, the future – against all odds – looks bright.

Meanwhile, the ANC in the Western Cape has yet to hold their own provincial conference – almost an entire year behind schedule. Unable to accomplish something as simple as this, this party now hopes to regain control of the Western Cape.

President Ramaphosa is undoubtedly aware of all of this, and hopes to use his appearances in the Western Cape to boost his party’s prospects, all as the taxpayer funds his travel, protection, and expenses. This transparent ploy will not work, because Western Cape citizens know that empty platitudes and promises do not get results. DA-led governments do.

The ANC has been rejected by voters in the Western Cape during the 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2021 local and provincial elections and President Ramaphosa is on a fishing expedition with his so called Presidential Imbizo abusing taxpayers money. The DA and the voters of Western Cape see through political opportunism, and we regard this Imbizo as an abuse of political office by the ANC.

The people of the Western Cape have faith in the DA, and the DA has faith in them.

Issued by Wendy Kaizer-Philander, Chief Whip of the DA in Western Cape Provincial Parliament, 18 May 2023