Mayor Tau, let’s debate the true state of Johannesburg

17 May 2016

Today the DA marches in step with a City demanding leadership on jobs.

We march on behalf of the 66 000 people who lost their jobs in the first four months of 2016, and on the one in four people who wake up every day without a job.

Today, I stand before you to issue a challenge to Mayor Parks Tau: come and debate me on the growing unemployment crisis facing our beloved city. 

I am calling on the Mayor to come and defend how his government sleeps at night while 66 000 more people have joined the millions of other unemployed people in Johannesburg.

 I am calling upon Mayor Parks Tau to defend the record of the ANC at all levels of government in job creation. 

The DA is working hard to win Johannesburg to get the city back to work.

Because we know that if Johannesburg works, South Africa works.

The DA is working hard for every South African to wake up to the promise of a good day’s work and restore the dignity of those forced to live without hope in despair.

The DA is marching on.

The DA is marching on in Johannesburg because we have a track record of creating many jobs across South Africa.

The Western Cape, where the DA governs is the only province that increased employment levels since January this year. We want to bring this change to Johannesburg too. 

We are marching because there is no freedom without economic freedom. 

Without jobs, we cannot roll back poverty.

Without jobs, we cannot roll back hunger.

Without jobs, we cannot roll back the roadblocks to opportunities.  

We are marching because we have a plan to create many jobs in the City of Gold.

We are marching because we have a plan to invest in the city’s infrastructure.

To provide the transport that links communities;

To provide the electricity to run our homes, businesses and schools.

To provide the water to sustain us and our land.

We are marching because the DA has a plan to support small businesses as the bedrock of the city’s economy.

Title deeds that empower families to own their home, and pass on an inheritance to the next generation.

Loans and finance for small businesses to give people a foothold on the ladder of opportunity. 

Support for small businesses who can give someone a chance to learn a new skill through the Youth Wage Subsidy, internships and mentoring.   

We are marching because the DA has a plan for education – and there is no better investment in the future of our children than in education. 

We are marching to reform our labour relations to make it fair for employees and employers alike;

To cut red the tape that strangles new businesses at birth.

To make it easier for new businesses to hire and retain new talent.

To make Johannesburg competitive in a globalised world.

With jobs, we can end poverty and inequality in our generation.

With jobs, we can feed every hungry child and restore dignity to every household. 

With jobs, we can create the opportunities for every South African to achieve their dreams.  

Today, the DA is marching for jobs, so that every South African can truly be free.

Mayor Tau, let’s debate the true state of Johannesburg, we are waiting for your call. 

Issued by Willie Venter on behalf of Herman Mashaba, DA Mayoral Candidate for Johannesburg, 17 May 2016