The Fight is On

Note to editors: This is an extract of a speech delivered by DA Leader Helen Zille in Lindelani, KwaZulu-Natal today

Colleagues, friends and fellow democrats:

I have been deeply moved by my visit to Lindelani today. I've just been to visit two homes on 120630 Street in Ntuzuma. I met the Ngelena family and Ms Ntuli living next door. Both of the families are living with disability.

Two years ago, after waiting for many years, they finally got RDP houses. But the houses were built without essential services. 

There are taps, but no water. There are switches, but no electricity. 

And people like the Ngelena and Ntuli families, who survive on disability grants, have to pay almost R500 per month to others to fetch water for them. 

Their elected ANC councillor has done nothing to help. The DA is doing everything it can, in opposition, to fix the problem. But we can only really fix these problems where we are in government. And we only get into government when a majority of people elect us.

Seeing these things has made us even more determined to get our message to all South Africans before next year's elections. The fight is on for what kind of country South Africa will be in the next five years.

The answer is clear.

Where the DA governs, we do not steal the people's money. 

We are working to fix the schools and the clinics. We are working to attract investment to create jobs. 

We are working to get free basic services to everyone. If government works hard for the right things every day, things get better step by step. 

And after five years it makes a big difference. After 10 years it makes a very big difference.

But - as my visit reminded me - we have a special responsibility to take care of our neighbours who live in difficult circumstances.

South Africa has become a harder place over the last five years.

It is not surprising because the word ‘compassion' - to suffer with - seems to be absent from our divided politics. 

Let me give you one heartrending example of how far things have gone wrong.

Did you hear about the death of Phumaphi Zondi in August at the Lindelani Community Hall?

If you did, it probably slipped from your mind within a day or two.

Partially sighted, Ms Zondi was shot when she ran into a hail of bullets when queueing for her monthly grant.

This incident is emblematic of our broken society.

In 2013, we still have not dealt with crime or the causes of crime. 

This is why I want to make something clear today.

The DA is as compassionate to the vulnerable as we are intolerant of criminals.

The DA knows that many people in this province depend on public services because the economy is not growing fast enough.

This is why the DA supports properly-targeted grants for social protection. Because a compassionate society takes care of its most vulnerable citizens - just like the couple and the lady I met.

They are pleased with the attention they have received from one of the DA PR councillor's for the work she has done.

And they joined the DA today.

I thank them for their vote of confidence in us.

But I want to say that every citizen across KZN - irrespective of which party they vote for - can expect quality service from their DA councillor.

And with the DA it's a two-way contract. Most political parties don't have the guts to say that. 

In the DA's community of values, we believe that every able person has an equal responsibility to do their fair share.

We stand for proud communities where people stand tall and proud.

The DA does not treat people as passive bystanders of their destiny. We believe that we are in this together.

This explains why The DA is the fastest growing party in South Africa. We tap into the authentic spirit of this country.

And it explains why we ‘look like' South Africa in its rich diversity.

In 2013, South Africans are hungry for change.

But the DA is looking for more than just a change of ruling party. We want to change South Africa.

The DA is growing fast in KwaZulu-Natal.

This is a province with a unique political complexion and set of challenges which we are sensitive to.

Historically, KwaZulu-Natal is the country's only province - other than the Western Cape - where an opposition party has won power.

KZN is also the only other province other the Western Cape where DA ministers served in office.

But the once mighty Inkatha Freedom Party is now a shadow of its former self.

And, worryingly, this is the only province where the ANC is growing.

This defies logic when you consider how the ANC has failed this province.

Corruption is rife in many municipalities, and ANC-led municipalities struggle to provide basic services as we have seen today.

Why is the ANC growing when President Zuma built a R200 million compound in one of the poorest regions of South Africa, Nkandla?

The fight for KZN is on. 

It is a two horse race between the DA and the ANC. A voter for any other party - IFP, NFP and COPE - is a wasted vote.

We are taking the fight to the ANC provincial government: a fight to ensure that no South African has to be trapped by the circumstances of their birth.

Anyone who says that the DA is not important here should remember the role DA representatives like Councillors Hlengiwe Biyela and Dean Macpherson played in warning that the ANC-led eThekwini Metro could collapse due to corruption.

The former ANC city manager, Michael Sutcliffe ran this great city's finances into the ground.

Yet for all the problems, Durban and KZN is a great place to live and work.

The Zulu, Indian and white communities make this province rich and fascinating.

The sun shines nearly every day.

And with its history, deep seaports, and national parks, KZN should be one of the great business and tourist destinations in the world.

But it is nowhere close to fulfilling its potential. 

Now is the time for bold leadership and new ideas to make this the comeback province.

In the 2009 general election and last year's local government elections, the DA increased its share of the vote. In 2014, we want to do much better. 

This places a great responsibility upon you, DA foot soldiers, to go out into every community of this province with the DA's message.

From Ladysmith to Durban, Ixopo to Nkandla, Richards Bay to Ulundi, take the DA message that we are the party of change.

Together,

As One Party;

As One Nation;

We can win.

Thank you.

Issued by the DA, October 5 2013

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