The leader of the Democratic Alliance John Steenhuisen has promised the country that should the DA be elected to the national government, it will stop open shedding, half of the crime rate and reduce unemployment to below 20% in the first term in office. DA election manifesto Steenhuisen announced this when he unveiled his election manifesto as a candidate for DA leadership at the party’s national congress to be held in April. He was contested by former Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse for the position. Also read: Steenhuisen must work more closely with his allies “My vision of…
The leader of the Democratic Alliance John Steenhuisen has promised the country that should the DA be elected to the national government, it will stop open shedding, half of the crime rate and reduce unemployment to below 20% in the first term in office.
DA election manifesto
Steenhuisen announced this when he unveiled his election manifesto as a candidate for DA leadership at the party’s national congress to be held in April. He was contested by former Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse for the position.
Also read: Steenhuisen should work more closely with his allies
“My vision of the DA’s path to fixing South Africa is ambitious and realistic,” Steenhuisen said.
“I know without a doubt that the DA is the only party that can stop the burden reduction, bring unemployment below 20%, beat the deployment of cadres, cut violent crime in half, and give more power to local governments that they can within a year in government . . .
Our country is crying out for such a solution – and South Africa is running out of time,” Steenhuisen said.
Ensure DA is the only alternative
Also read: Phalatse may have what it takes to defeat Steenhuisen, DA insider says
Other promises made:
- Get the ANC under 50% nationally, and ensure the DA is the only alternative
- Focus DA communications on the issues most important to voters
- Embrace the private sector to reduce unemployment below 20%
- Beat the corruption of cadre deployment and build a country that can improve education and health
He said if the DA becomes the national government in 2024, it will create
millions of new jobs and reduce unemployment below 20% – in one’s time in office.
He announced this to supporters during a manifesto launch in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, where the DA leads a coalition government.
READ ALSO: Steenhuisen is the leader of the DA, because no one can compete
He said the top priority for the DA is to focus on ending burden shedding.
“A DA-led government, like Cape Town, will be the first in the country to restore power to the people,” Steenhuisen said.
“We will start by decentralizing the big powers of power generation, public transport and railways and policing – away from the national government.
10% is what the DA is doing under the current ANC government
“In addition to releasing private investment to revitalize this critical sector, we will encourage competent local governments to take over key aspects of these services,” he said.
He slammed what he called the failed socialist ANC paradigm that created an unworkable state. Unemployment currently stands at 32%, with an unofficial figure of around 43%, he said.
READ ALSO: DA is the only ‘trustworthy, better’ alternative for South Africans, says Steenhuisen
Steenhuisen promises:
The DA will create a truly independent police service by ensuring that all senior officers are appointed strictly on the basis of merit and experience and dramatically expand law enforcement powers.
Steenhuisen said the DA is back on track and will make history in 2024 as a government. The party has changed dramatically from 1.7% of the vote in 1994 to just 10% behind the ANC today.
ericn@citizen.co.za