Handful of people turn up for DA mayoral candidate

9 February 2016

Johannesburg - "Anyone that tells me that the ANC will still be in power in 2019, I don't know what they are smoking."

This was the message DA Mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba had for a small turnout of about 30 people during his briefing in the Johannesburg CBD on Tuesday.

He said that within one year of his becoming mayor of Johannesburg, people would be able to walk the streets of the Johannesburg CBD and feel safe.

"People are going to vote for DA," he said.

Mashaba said the business community was essential for the DA and also the country.

"We need businesses that make money because they employ people on a consistent basis."

He said he knew people were frustrated with what was regarded as white monoploly capital.

"The DA, under my administration, will regard you as one of most important stakeholders."

According to Mashaba, he does not yet have solutions, because he "needs to understand the problems" of the people first and asked that people share their frustrations with the DA in the next few months so that they can deliver once they take over.

"Businesses will be a key priority and my biggest friend. Property can play a big role. We've focused on all areas except for Johannesburg and that is mostly because the government doesn't provide the support."

He said that corruption was the number one enemy of the city and that the government was looking after prisoners better than law-abiding citizens.

"One of biggest problems today is that the criminal justice system is accountable to the politicians. It has to prosecute, but they have to consult each time."

He added that they wanted South Africans and South African banks to invest in the city.

"For people to say that the DA is mostly white is wrong. This is not 1994 any more and we are the only diverse party in the country."

This article first appeared on News24, see here.